A 62-year-old man was sentenced to seven years in prison on Monday after having taken money on the promise that he would build five houses which he then did not build.

He was arrested after an individual had filed a complaint to the police, saying he had taken receipt of €128,500 in September last year while claiming to be the owner of a construction company, promising to build five houses on a plot of land in the Famagusta district.

He then did not build any of the houses, and the complaint was filed in February.