Two men have been arrested in Thessaloniki in connection with the murder of 49-year-old Cypriot businessman Stavros Demosthenous. The arrests were made by Greek police on Thursday, following European arrest warrants that were issued after the killing, which took place last Saturday.
The suspects, both 28-year-old cousins, reportedly fled to Thessaloniki after the incident. According to sources from Limassol police, they had been under surveillance for two days prior to their arrest. It is alleged that one cousin acted as the shooter while the other drove the getaway vehicle.
Following their apprehension, the men are set to appear at the Thessaloniki Court of Appeals to initiate extradition proceedings back to Cyprus. Under European legislation, this process must be completed within 90 days of their arrest. The suspects face the choice of consenting to immediate extradition or contesting it, which would require Greek judicial authorities to review the European warrant without examining the evidence held by Cypriot investigators.
Greek police executed searches at the apartment where the cousins were found. Reports indicate that they sought refuge in Thessaloniki due to family connections in the area. Cyprus Police have expressed gratitude to their Greek counterparts for their “impeccable cooperation”, highlighting the collaboration between the two nations in addressing this serious crime.
Investigators believe these arrests may bring clarity to the motives behind Demosthenous’ murder. In a related development, the Limassol District Court has been hearing new details regarding the motorcycle used in the getaway. A 30-year-old inmate had his detention extended for eight days, as his lawyer did not object to the extension.
According to the case investigator, the inmate had contacted someone from prison, instructing them to reach out to a third party to acquire a motorcycle for a specific province in exchange for money. In early September, this accomplice received a call to locate a scooter for resale. After initial delays due to work commitments, he was able to purchase a motorcycle and deliver it to a predetermined location.
This motorcycle was later recovered by police, which led to a dispute between the accomplice and the inmate. Following the retrieval of the first motorcycle, the inmate assured the accomplice that he would find a second motorcycle. The process for obtaining the second motorcycle involved purchasing it from a 44-year-old former footballer, with the accomplice making a video call to the inmate for approval prior to the sale. The motorcycle was placed at the same location as the previous one, but the next day, it was discovered to be missing, presumably taken by the inmate’s associate.
