Turkish Cypriot solicitor Akan Kürşat has been conditionally released by the court until his trial, scheduled for 29 February at 10:30 am.
Kürşat was handed over to Cypriot authorities by Italy, arriving in Cyprus early Friday morning. He faces allegations of illegally claiming Greek Cypriot land in the occupied areas and was presented to the Nicosia District Court today.
Following the court’s decision, Kürşat was released upon posting €10,000 in cash and providing two bank guarantees totalling €65,000 from Cypriot financial institutions. Additionally, he is required to report to the Ayios Dometios police station on the first and third Monday of each month from 6-9 pm, starting 19 February.
Kürşat, escorted by his defence attorney Rikkos Mappourides, entered the courtroom at 11:35 am.
Mappourides informed the court that Kürşat would plead not guilty if the charges, which the prosecution claims include 20 counts, were read to him.
Kürşat acknowledged that he had been briefed on the charges outside the courtroom with a translator’s assistance.
Mappourides then requested the court allow Kürşat’s wife to post the cash bail and for two separate Cypriot banks to provide the bank guarantees.
The court consented, specifying that the cash bail be paid by Kürşat himself and the bank guarantees be issued as two cheques of €50,000 and €15,000 from the Bank of Cyprus and Astrobank, respectively.
Kürşat was arrested in Rome on New Year’s Eve based on a 2007 arrest warrant and agreed to his extradition to the Republic of Cyprus on 2 February.
The case involves the alleged misuse of Greek Cypriot properties in Klepini, Kyrenia district, by AGA Developments, a firm linked to Kürşat along with British national Gary Robb, Turkish Cypriot contractor Tunzel Tahir Soykan, and Turkish Cypriot engineer Kutsal Tokatlioglu.
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