The five Greek Cypriots who were arrested in the north last month were on Thursday taken back to the crossing point through which they entered the north on the day of their arrest.

The move had been requested by the prosecution on Wednesday, with lawyers having said then that every person involved in the case, including judges, lawyers, and defendants, should visit the crossing point and “conduct a site inspection to see whether the inside of the vehicle could be seen or not” by a police officer working at a crossing point booth.

This is because at last week’s hearing, it was stated by police officer Timucin Apaydin that it would have been impossible for the police on duty to discern how many people were in the Greek Cypriots’ car because of the car’s tinted windows.

The five Greek Cypriots had entered the north in the same car from the British Dhekelia base through the Strovilia crossing point, near Famagusta, on July 19, though the police and prosecutors have claimed that only four identity cards were handed over for inspection on the Turkish Cypriot side of the crossing point. The five Greek Cypriots deny this.

As such, one of the five Greek Cypriots stands accused of having entered the north illegally, while the other four stand accused of having aided and abetted that illegal entry.

On Thursday, the court approved the prosecution’s request, and as such, everyone involved with the case was immediately taken to Strovilia.

Earlier, a civilian court had indefinitely suspended the case regarding the Greek Cypriots’ lawyers’ appeal against the decision for them to remain in custody, meaning that they will likely remain in custody throughout the duration of their trials, of which they face two.

The first, in a military court, concerns their alleged illegal entry, while the second, in a civilian court, concerns charges of privacy violations, trespassing, and breaching the peace – offences which they allegedly committed while visiting the village of Gastria, near Trikomo, on July 19.

Regarding the second case, the Turkish Cypriot authorities also arrested two Turkish Cypriots, an 83-year-old estate agent and an employee of the north’s land registry, on suspicion of aiding and abetting the five. They were both released on bail on August 7.

More to follow…