Abduction, beating and extortion of €1,000 in Paphos — two suspects sought
A Pakistani man reported that he was abducted, beaten and forced to sign a promissory note for €1,000. Arrest warrants have been issued against two foreign nationals.
Abduction with handcuffs near Petra tou Romiou — two foreign nationals sought
According to offsite.com.cy, Paphos Police are investigating a case of abduction, conspiracy to commit a felony and extortion with threats, reported by a Pakistani citizen. The incidents took place in October 2017 and February 2018, with the case coming to police attention four months later.
The trigger: advance payment for security cameras
According to police, in October 2017 the complainant agreed with a fellow countryman — a Pakistani — on the installation of a security camera system at his residence in Nicosia. The suspect requested €1,300 for the purchase of equipment and received an advance payment of €300.
Subsequently, the complainant went to the suspect's residence and asked for the equipment back, stating that he intended to install the cameras himself. The suspect refused to return the €300 and, according to the complainant's allegations, began threatening him by telephone with physical harm if he did not pay the full amount.
Ambush on the road to Paphos
On 25 February 2018, the complainant reported to police that he had left Limassol intending to buy a car in Paphos. At some point during the journey, a vehicle pulled over in which the suspect and an unknown Indian man were travelling.
The complainant alleged that the suspect threatened him not to make a fuss, claiming that he was carrying drugs and weapons in the car and threatening to report him to the Migration Service as a drug dealer.
Handcuffs, beating and removal of clothing
Subsequently, according to the complaint, the two men placed handcuffs on the complainant and forced him to sign a document in English, according to which he owed €1,000 to the suspect. They then slapped him, stripped him and took his mobile phone.
According to the complainant's allegations, the perpetrators transported him naked to a kiosk near Petra tou Romiou. There they removed the handcuffs, allowed him to get dressed and ordered him to call a friend to bring the €1,000 that he had "signed" that he owed.
Intervention by a friend from Syria and partial payment
The complainant, as he reported to police, telephoned a person of Syrian origin residing in Nicosia and he agreed to help him. The complainant got into the back seat of the suspect's vehicle and, together with the two men, headed towards Nicosia.
There they met with the Syrian acquaintance, who paid part of the owed amount to the suspect. After the agreement was made, the complainant was released.
Investigation by Kouklia station — arrest warrants issued
After his release, the complainant reported the case to Limassol Police. The investigation is being conducted by Kouklia Police Station. Arrest warrants have been issued against the Pakistani suspect and the Indian man who accompanied him, and both individuals are being sought.
Source: Google News GR — Crime (el)