Police in Larnaca are probing an alleged real estate fraud, involving Turkish Cypriot land.
The investigation started with a complaint lodged by the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Service, alleging that a group of Greek Cypriots engaged in document forgery and deceptive practices to unlawfully take possession of six parcels of land in Pyrga, originally owned by a deceased Turkish Cypriot.
The alleged offences are believed to have occurred last month.
According to Phileleftheros, the issue came to light when an involved party attempted to obtain a certificate to unlock the real estate assets.
This prompted a closer examination of the case, revealing discrepancies and leading to an internal inquiry. However, the file, managed by the Larnaca Land Registry, vanished under circumstances that are being investigated.
Consequently, the reportedly forged documents detailing the land transfer are missing.
Investigations aim to illuminate the extent of involvement by the officials at the Larnaca Land Registry. Additionally, the role of a former attorney, who has been stricken from the Cyprus Bar Association, is under scrutiny, Phileleftheros reports.
The matter is subject to both criminal investigation by the Larnaca Crime Detection Department and an administrative inquiry by the Larnaca Land Registry.
Case background
The complaint suggests that in their bid to claim the land, the group allegedly presented a letter indicating that the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Service of the Ministry of the Interior, had consented to the transfer.
They are also accused of producing a will with a former lawyer, now delisted from the Cyprus Bar Association, as the executor.
For land transfers arising from inheritance, submission of certificates for fee payment is mandatory. Sources told Phileleftheros that it was during this process that anomalies were detected.
Specifically, an individual approached the Pyrga Community Authority, seeking a fee payment certificate to facilitate the transfer of property. Following standard procedures, the Community reached out to the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Service only to discover that it had never sanctioned the inheritance process that was set in motion.
When attempts were made to internally investigate the matter, it was discovered that the inheritance file had gone missing, leaving no available documents to examine the exact occurrences.
Investigations are currently ongoing, with an official from the Turkish Cypriot Property Management Service having reported the case to the Larnaca Police last Wednesday.
For now, the Police, based on the complaint at hand, seem to be looking into crimes related to document forgery.
Nevertheless, the case may yet escalate in scope, Phileleftheros writes.
