The police are seeking an unknown individual to whom a 31-year-old Ukrainian woman, accused of laundering almost €8 million, is alleged to have handed over a package of money.
This comes after testimonies from restaurant patrons and surveillance footage came into the possession of the authorities.
According to witness statements, the package fell from individuals on a motorcycle, who, as reported by the Ukrainian woman, robbed her last Friday in Limassol, taking €420,000 intended for a real estate purchase.
The woman refuses to name the unknown recipient, with efforts underway to identify him through the secured videos, as reported by police sources to Phileleftheros.
Investigations are now proceeding in two directions: one concerning the money laundering case and the other regarding the robbery reported by the 31-year-old, which is being examined for potential staging.
The contradictions in the Ukrainian woman’s statements led her to Larnaca District Court yesterday, which referred her to a trial before the Criminal Court scheduled for April 17.
The court was informed that the 31-year-old had entered the country 20 times from August 2023 to March 1, 2024, transferring a total of €7,832,300.
The trial was decided to take place in Larnaca as most of the money arrived via the city’s airport.
The 31-year-old faces a total of 60 charges related to conspiracy to defraud, money laundering and false statements.
The prosecution’s representative requested her detention until the trial, noting that the defendant had declared the cash all 20 times she entered Cyprus, stating the amounts belonged to her and were intended for property purchase.
Additionally, upon her arrival in Cyprus on March 1, she declared to the Customs Authorities that the €420,000 she was carrying was a loan from another person, while her statement to the Police claimed the money was income from her and her husband’s work.
Following an investigation by the Cypriot Authorities, it was found that neither she nor her husband owns any property or account in the Republic, nor are they shareholders in any company registered in Cyprus.
It was also noted that the woman resides in Ukraine and appeared to have no ties to Cyprus.
Her defence lawyers, Christos Charalambous and Marinos Armeftis, contested her detention until the April 17 court appearance to answer the charges. However, the court rejected their objection, and she remains in custody.
Meanwhile, according to Phileleftheros, the Ukrainian woman visited Cyprus an average of three times per month. In February 2024, within 20 days, she transferred over €2 million. Similarly, in December 2023, she transferred €1,220.000 in just 8 days.
As Phileleftheros understands, the 31-year-old often followed the route from Poland to Athens to Cyprus, using the Greek capital as a layover before travelling to Larnaca and Paphos.
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