Mayor speaks on illegal use of properties
Lefkara Mayor Sofoklis Sofokleous spoke on Sigma’s “Protoselido” programme about Turkish Cypriot properties in Lefkara being used for drug trafficking. Some of these properties are illegally occupied, while in other cases, occupants demand payment to vacate.
Extortion demands reported
In two reported cases, individuals demanded €15,000 and €25,000 from users to abandon the properties in Lefkara. In one incident, a Turkish Cypriot property owner requested €15,000 from a pregnant woman to leave the house.
Ongoing concerns and past appeals
Mayor Sofokleous explained that he had sent letters regarding the issue to the then Minister of Interior since 2017, aiming to address the mismanagement of Turkish Cypriot properties, but received no response. He also recommended that authorities record all Turkish Cypriot houses and properties to identify legitimate owners and encourage claims by rightful beneficiaries.
Also read: EPPO declines comment on Fidias Panayiotou case
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