A Larnaca court has remanded five men after a gang demanding €7,000 protection money from a businessman triggered a violent clash that ended with gunfire in the city centre.
The group had demanded €7,000 for protection, then €1,000 monthly. When the businessman refused, vehicles approached his premises at high speed shortly after 3pm on 17 January and 20 people got out.
They started beating the businessman. He and three others—a relative and two friends—fought back with an axe and crowbars. Someone from the gang fired two pistol shots.
The Larnaca District Court yesterday ordered all five suspects held until their trial on 16 March at Larnaca Permanent Criminal Court. Defence lawyers had challenged the remand in a lengthy hearing.
The five include a 48-year-old Cypriot alleged to lead the criminal group and four foreigners from Jordan and Palestine aged 26, 26, 32 and 20.
They face charges of conspiracy to commit a felony, illegal possession and transport of firearms and explosives, extortion, demanding property with threats, participating in a criminal organisation and assault causing actual bodily harm.
The 48-year-old and one 26-year-old face additional charges over a separate attack hours earlier. At 4am on 17 January, they allegedly beat a 39-year-old Bulgarian man in Pyla, causing grievous bodily harm. They’re also charged with making threats and carrying a knife.
Police are hunting three other men aged 27, 26 and 35 believed to have fled abroad. A 27-year-old is also wanted for the Pyla beating.
The businessman told investigators the gang first contacted him by phone with threats. On Saturday morning, a person of Arab origin came to his business and threatened him with a knife before the afternoon clash.
Larnaca CID has separately arrested two businessmen aged 47 and 43 who met with the complainant and allegedly asked him to change his statement. They were committed for trial on Tuesday for interference with judicial proceedings and released on conditions.
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