Family of northern contractor denies role in president's death threat as police issue arrest warrant
Family of northern contractor denies role in president's death threat as police issue arrest warrant
As previously reported, police have identified a suspect wanted in connection with a death threat against President Nikos Christodoulides, the agency said in a social media post on Wednesday.
The threats are apparently related to the proceedings against Israeli real estate developer Simon Aykut, who was arrested in early June and charged with illegal possession of Greek Cypriot properties in northern Cyprus.
Aykut's family denied allegations that he was involved in the death threats. A statement carried by media in the north said Aykut's health was deteriorating in prison.
"From the moment the president received the threatening message, a coordinated investigation was launched and as a result, statements were secured against a specific individual," police said, without naming them.
Police obtained an arrest warrant for the suspect, which was issued by the court on Wednesday. The man is wanted for threats, conspiracy to commit a crime and obstruction of justice.
It had previously been reported that the threats Christodoulides received via a social media platform he used may have originated in the north, as an internet provider from that region was used, ruling out the possibility that the message was sent from an IP address in a territory controlled by the Republic or elsewhere.
Media in the north published the family's written statement, pointing to Aykut's deteriorating health in prison and saying Aykut's detention was a blow to democracy and justice in Cyprus.
According to Diyalog, the family stated that the whole affair was "a political maneuver by the institutions of the Republic of Cyprus to cover up Aykut's health problems."
Yeni Bakış said Aykut's family had called for his immediate release.
It was also said that the family had encountered inconsistencies in the statements made about the phone found in Aykut's possession. At first it was said that it had been found in a hallway, later it was said that it had never been found.
Aykut's lawyer Maria Neophytou told Star Kıbrıs that her client had never threatened Christodoulides and reiterated reports of a cover-up of his health problems.
She said Aykut's health reports, commissioned by the Supreme Court, diagnosed him with cancer, requiring his immediate release.
The president confirmed receiving a threat on Saturday, without providing further details. The message appears to have been sent on Friday morning.
The President expressed his full confidence in the authorities to get the matter under control.
Source: CyprusMail.com
Author: Iole Damaskinos
