Police have identified a suspect who is now wanted in connection with a death threat made against President Nikos Christodoulides, the authority said on Wednesday in a post on social media.

The threats appear to be connected to the trial of Israeli land developer Simon Aykut, arrested in early June and charged with the usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the north.

Aykut’s family has refuted allegations that he had any involvement in the death threats and a statement, carried by media in the north, spoke of his deteriorating health in prison.

“From the firt moment the president received the threatening message, a coordinated investigation was launched and as a result, testimony against a specific person was secured,” the police said without naming them.

Police secured an arrest warrant against the suspect which was issued by the court on Wednesday, and the individual is wanted for the investigated case of issuing threats, conspiracy to commit a felony, and interference with judicial proceedings.

Earlier it had been reported that threats sent to Christodoulides via a social media platform he used, may have originated from the north, as an internet provider in that area was used, ruling out the possibility that the message was sent from an IP address in territory controlled by the Republic or elsewhere.

Media in the north carried the family’s written statement, which referred to Aykut’s deteriorating health in prison and said holding Aykut was a blow to democracy and justice in Cyprus.

According to Diyalog, the family said the whole issue was “a political manoeuvre on behalf of the institutions of the Republic of Cyprus to conceal Aykut’s health problems.”

Yeni Bakış said Aykut’s family demanded his immediate release.

It also said the family found inconsistencies in statements regarding the phone found in Aykut’s possession, as it was initially said to have been found in a corridor and later on it was reported to have never been found.

Aykut’s lawyer Maria Neophytou told Star Kıbrıs that her client had never threatened Christodoulides and echoed reports regarding a health coverup.

She said Aykut’s health reports, ordered by the Supreme Court, stated he had been diagnosed with cancer, which indicated the need for his immediate release.

The president confirmed having received a threat on Saturday without giving further details. The message appears to have been sent on Friday morning.

The president expressed his complete faith in the authorities to handle the matter.