Three suspects in an alleged homeless scam in Limassol are expected to be released from police custody today on the expiry of their four day remand at the instructions of the attorney general, philenews reports.
It said that the case file on an alleged scam to defraud social security funds earmarked for the homeless had been sent to the law office of the Republic and that Costas Clerides had given instructions for all the homeless cited in the case to be found so that the investigation can be completed. Once the investigation is completed then the case will go to court, it added.
Citing sources, the site said that the 46 year old president of the EnErgo movement, a non-registered NGO which campaigns for the homeless and is one of the three suspects was released but rearrested because of outstanding unpaid fines.
The other two suspects are the 57 year old owner and manager of a hotel allegedly used in the scam and a 66 year old hotel employee.
Police say the three had set up a scheme at a hotel in the coastal town to claim thousands of funds to house homeless individuals for longer than they had actually stayed.
All deny any involvement in the suspected conspiracy to commit an offence, obtaining funds under false pretences and fraud. Â These were committed between August 2018 and October 2019.
Police had told the court that there were at least nine cases of homeless individuals who had left the hotel but the state continued to pay for their room and board. They believe thousands of euros may have been siphoned off in this way.
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https://in-cyprus.com/remand-order-renewed-for-limassol-homeless-scheme-frauds-three-suspects/
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