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- Ελληνικά
This is the most severe prison sentence ever imposed by the Cyprus Courts for offences of this nature
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Concurrent sentences, with a maximum of five years imprisonment, was imposed on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, by the Permanent Court of Famagusta, on an accused person, who, in order to gain profit, assisted 109 illegal immigrants from Syria and Lebanon to illegally enter, by sea, the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.
This is the most severe prison sentence that has so far been imposed by the Cypriot Courts for offences of this nature, and is much more severe than the three-year prison sentence that, in September 2023, the Court of Appeal imposed on a person who was found guilty of assisting illegal immigrants to enter the Republic for profit.
Specifically, the accused was found guilty by the Court of Cassation, upon his own admission, of four charges, namely:
1. locating an illegal immigrant in the territorial waters of the Republic of Cyprus,
2. assisting an illegal immigrant to enter the Republic for the purpose of making a profit,
3. money laundering from illegal activities, and
4. participation in a criminal organization.
The offences were committed within the framework of a criminal organization of transnational character, which is active in the smuggling of migrants in Cyprus, with Syria and Lebanon as the countries involved. The accused agreed with the traffickers to make a boat of his own property available for the fulfilment of this illegal purpose, in exchange for a financial reward
The Court of Cassation notes in its decision that the accused participated for a fee in a structured group of migrant smugglers, with international activities extending to Syria, Lebanon and Cyprus, playing an essential role in the whole illegal project of transporting illegal immigrants by sea to Cyprus, who had each paid to the criminal organization amounts ranging from 2.000-3.000 USD.
On behalf of the Attorney General of the Republic, the case was handled by Mr Adamos Demosthenous, Public Prosecutor.
(MΛ)
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