Second suspect remanded in connection with Paphos abduction

A second suspect has been remanded for seven days in connection with the abduction of a 23-year-old man earlier this week in Paphos.

Police had arrested the 29-year-old man as part of investigations into a kidnapping and robbery case committed on Wednesday in Emba. Paphos district court issued a seven-day remand against him on Saturday morning.

For the same case, a 27-year-old man is already in custody. He was arrested following the victim’s testimony to the police.

According to the complainant, four men of apparent African origin approached him outside a pizza place in Chlorakas around 5.45pm on Wednesday and asked him to join them for a drink.

The 23-year-old refused, since he did not know them, and attempted to leave the premises. Then the four men immobilised him, shoved him into a car, stole his wallet and beat him up. The culprits let him walk away shortly after.

Following the victim’s complaint, police arrested him for illegal stay in the Republic.

As part of investigations into the abduction case, police said they were informed about the licence plate numbers of the car.

They also cordoned off the scene of the crime where they found some evidence, including a shoe and a mobile phone. The items are believed to belong to the victim or the assailants.

During investigations officers found the car is registered to a man not in Paphos, who he told police he sold to a Greek Cypriot through a website.

The vehicle was later found to belong to the 27-year-old suspect, as the previous owner sold it to him through a website, but the paperwork for transferring ownership had not been completed.

Later, police found the vehicle parked outside an apartment building in Tremithousa. The car is being kept at the Paphos police station.

Authorities are still searching for four other suspects in the case.