Cyprus Police is working with the Money Laundering Combat Unit (MOKAS) to facilitate investigations into a high-profile case of money laundering.
The case involves a 31-year-old woman who was robbed of €420,000, a few hours after arriving in Cyprus. She is now accused of money laundering.
Sources told Phileleftheros that the focus of the inquiry is to trace the origin of the money the woman was transporting.
The suspect has claimed that the money was intended for a real estate transaction.
MOKAS will extend its request for cooperation to international authorities, aiming to trade the trajectory of the funds.
Furthermore, engagements with Customs Authorities are anticipated to shed light on the intended declaration and final destination of the imported money, as indicated by the suspect.
The apparent ease with which such large sums were imported, either without the requisite documentation or without proper verification of their legitimacy, raises significant concerns.
The judicial order for the 31-year-old’s detention is set to expire this coming Thursday, when authorities will determine the necessity of extending her custody based on available evidence or releasing her.
Limassol CID is handling the theft aspect of the case, while the money laundering allegations are under the scrutiny of the Headquarters CID.
The case began last Friday when the Ukrainian woman reported to the Police a theft incident.
She claimed that while strolling along Limassol’s coastal avenue with €420,000 in a small shoulder bag, she fell victim to thieves on a motorcycle.
Police investigations, corroborated by surveillance footage, confirmed the theft.
Should further investigation through testimony ascertain the robbery as pre-organised, the woman could be rearrested on charges of causing public mischief, as per police sources.
Read more:
Unprecedented money laundering network behind staged robbery of Ukrainian woman
