Larnaca court postpones hearing in alleged financial exploitation case

Larnaca, Cyprus. The Larnaca criminal court on Friday postponed proceedings against four people accused in a case involving the alleged pressure, threats and financial exploitation of a 77-year-old man.

The defendants had been expected to enter pleas, but their lawyers requested further evidence and details concerning the alleged role of each accused.

Next hearing set for October 5

The defendants are two businessmen aged 44 and 42, a 49-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman.

The court set October 5 for the next hearing, when the four defendants are expected to enter their pleas.

The 45-year-old woman and the 42-year-old man had previously been released on bail. The 49-year-old remains in custody at the central prisons in connection with other cases before the courts.

Allegations concern transactions worth millions

The case follows a complaint by the 77-year-old, who alleges that the four defendants subjected him to pressure, threats and financial exploitation over several years and formed part of an organised group.

Evidence presented at an earlier hearing indicated that the case involved transactions worth millions of euros. The complainant allegedly paid substantial sums for purported investments, business partnerships and personal matters.

The allegations include blackmail, threats, demands for money and sustained psychological pressure.

Shots allegedly fired outside home

The case also refers to an incident in which an unidentified person allegedly fired shots outside the complainant’s home a few days after he refused to pay a specified sum of money.