Man remanded for 4 days for assault on Congolese woman (updated)

The 43-year-old Greek Cypriot man who was caught on video assaulting a Congolese woman holding her infant in Larnaca, was on Friday remanded for four days.

The attack took place near Larnaca port on Wednesday and was recorded by an eyewitness and uploaded on social media in the early morning hours on Thursday, sparking widespread condemnation by netizens, officials and political parties.

According to reports, the 29-year-old woman, who had bought a car from the perpetrator last week, asked for the return of her €920, after she discovered the car had mechanical problems. The request was made at the place of residence of the Greek Cypriot.

Then, the court heard that the man started using racist language saying “this is my country and I will do what I want” before he started hitting and kicking the woman, who was on the ground holding her 11-month-old son in her arms. The suspect also attacked her brother who was at the scene.

The eyewitness said they heard the perpetrator speaking in English threatening to kill the woman and her infant if she did not leave the area. Once the 43-year-old realised the eyewitness was recording the assault, he grabbed an iron crowbar and threatened to kill her too, the witness told the court.

The video, posted online around 1am on Thursday, showed a man hitting and kicking a woman who was holding an infant in her arms as they are sitting on the pavement. The same man then attacks a black man who was also there before he again moves towards the woman, who was on the ground, and kicks her in the back.

Another man, who is also thought to be Greek Cypriot but younger than the suspect, is seen trying to push him away from her.

Police said the woman, who is an asylum seeker from Congo, had to visit the hospital for examinations. Doctors found the woman had bruises and scratches on various parts of her body.

The investigator of the case also told the court that there is still a lot of investigative work to be done and it is expected that at least 12 statements will be taken from the eyewitnesses of the incident with the help of an interpreter, as well as from bystanders. Furthermore, police will examine the material recorded by at least two CCTV cameras located in the area.

Investigations into the attack started on Wednesday afternoon when the case was reported to the police, a police spokesman told the Cyprus Mail.

The perpetrator was arrested in the district around noon on Thursday for offences that included racist and violent behaviour. He is also being investigated for assault and causing actual bodily harm.