Nicosia, Cyprus. Justice Minister Costas Fitiris said on Monday that the Republic of Cyprus is obliged to agree to Israel’s request to transfer Israeli prisoner Simon Aykut to Israel to serve out the remainder of his sentence.
Transfer request and legal obligation
Fitiris said Israel has requested Aykut’s transfer to serve his sentence there and that Cyprus has an obligation to abide by the relevant agreement. He said the case is “very special” due to the usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied territories, adding that all factors are weighed in the public interest.
Fitiris said he has signed 15 prisoner transfer requests to countries where inmates hold citizenship since taking office in December.
Israeli actions referenced by minister
Fitiris said Cyprus has secured that Israel recognises the usurpation of Greek Cypriot properties in the occupied territories. He added that the Israeli government has issued a travel advisory for the north recommending that Israelis not buy properties built on Greek Cypriot land.
Consequences of non-compliance
Fitiris said Cyprus must respond to the transfer request, otherwise there will be consequences, which he said would stem from not respecting an existing agreement rather than necessarily affecting relations with Israel.
Sentence length and potential release
Fitiris said that due to Aykut’s age, he can be released once half of his sentence has elapsed, and that the issue concerns whether he will remain in prison for another six to eight months. He said he believes Cyprus cannot risk the public interest for six months, adding that the important point is that Aykut has been convicted and that Israel has recognised his conviction was for the usurpation of Greek Cypriot property.
Conviction and charges
Aykut was sentenced to five years in prison in October last year after pleading guilty to 40 charges related to the development and sale of Greek Cypriot property in the north.
He initially faced 242 charges, including 60 related to fraudulent real estate transactions, 60 to possession of stolen land, 62 to money laundering, and 60 to conspiracy to commit a crime.
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