Coronavirus: Restaurant worker arrested for fake SafePass

A 21-year-old restaurant employee was arrested for showing a fake SafePass to officers early on Saturday during daily checks for violations of coronavirus measures.

Police were conducting checks at a Larnaca-based restaurant a few minutes after midnight on Saturday.

A 21-year-old staff member showed police the electronic version of his negative coronavirus test on his phone.

Police asked to see his ID and noticed that there were some differences between the personal information on the rapid test and his identification document.

When police questioned the man about it, he admitted that the specific test was forged and was arrested for forgery and circulation of a forged document.

He was transferred to the Larnaca CID where he admitted to the offence, was charged and then released pending his court appearance.

Police also issued a €300 fine to the suspect.

Another 33 individuals and eight businesses were booked for violating coronavirus measures after 5,310 police checks between 6am on Friday and 6am on Saturday.

Government decrees provide that all employees must have a SafePass which entails a vaccination certificate with at least one dose three weeks prior, a negative coronavirus test carried out less than 72 hours prior or a document proving they have recovered from the virus in the last 6 months.