Nicosia, Cyprus. The trial of German real estate agent Eva Isabella Kunzel, facing charges in Cyprus of usurping Greek Cypriot property, continued on Monday at the Nicosia criminal court with the examination of evidence obtained from online police investigations.
Defence requests and pre-trial detention
Defence lawyer Soteris Argyrou requested time for the translation of his client’s testimony on oath and to confer with her to prepare testimony detailing the conditions of her pre-trial detention, after the court declined to consider her release.
Kunzel has been held in custody since her arrest in July 2024 and is accused of illegally advertising and promoting Greek Cypriot-owned properties in the north.
Prosecution evidence from online investigations
The trial continued with prosecution witness police officer Christos Hadjivasiliou testifying about his report on an online investigation carried out in October 2024.
The witness presented short promotional videos about property in the north bearing the logo of VePa immobilien, which had been found on the social media accounts of a real estate agent.
He also presented a post featuring the accused and another person, accompanied by a description of the course of works at a resort under construction in the north, as well as other videos in which the accused appeared to be showing the other person one of the complexes.
Objections and translation issue
Argyrou objected, saying the prosecution was attempting to create impressions against his client, and the court dismissed the objection.
In other videos, the accused appeared to be promoting the complex and calling for investments in other projects in the north.
Argyrou questioned the procedure, saying cross-examination could not be carried out in German.
Presiding judge Nicholas Georgiades said another witness was expected to testify on the translation of the material presented.
What impact could the translation of the presented material have on the court proceedings?