Nicosia criminal court on Tuesday rejected pre-trial objections put forth in the case of a German national held in connection with usurping Greek Cypriot property in the north.
The woman is facing 44 charges including money laundering, fraudulent transactions in real estate and illegal possession of land. The offences unfolded between 2023 and 2024 in Kyrenia, according to the charge sheet.
Her defence lawyer had argued she would not receive a fair trial due to bias. But the court threw out the pre-trial objection saying the lawyer had failed to properly substantiate why the court had given the impression of bias.
The presiding judge called the argument “broad, vague and did not specify which capacity or conduct of the court creates an impression of bias.”
Nonetheless, the lawyer said any witnesses “from services on the other side” would be arrested in the Republic, while he raised the question that any documents he submitted from the north would not be accepted by the court and prosecution.
As such, the trial would be one where the defendant is assumed guilty “and we try to reverse it.”
He argued there was no way a court in the Republic would acquit his client as it would “set a precedent for the sale of Cypriot property in areas not controlled by the Republic.”
Consequently, this means the court cannot hear the case impartially and the German woman would not receive a fair trial, the lawyer argued.
He also suggested there was political pressure exercised on the court.
The prosecution countered there was nothing raised that personally concerned members of the court that could influence their impartiality.
“Speculation cannot demonstrate bias and that a court will not perform its duty. It is unthinkable to exclude judges simply because charges touch on property in occupied territories.”
The defence lawyer sought to have some of the charges dropped relating to advertising property sales, unlawful possession and use of property in the north.
The hearing will resume on October 17.
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