Family friend arrested in Paphos robbery case

A woman has been arrested in connection with an aggravated robbery investigation in Paphos, following reports that she was a friend of the victim who had withdrawn his savings to go back to his country.

Police said a 53-year-old woman was detained on Tuesday on an arrest warrant in connection with a case of aggravated robbery in Paphos’ Universal borough last week.

Last Friday afternoon a 64-year-old man told police that three men wearing medical masks broke into his home and assaulted him, with reports saying the perpetrators were speaking Russian and asking for money.

It was reported that the victim sustained multiple bruises and injuries throughout his body during the alleged incident, while according to the police complaint, the suspects managed to get away with €70,000 in cash that was inside a money safe.

It later emerged that following the incident, a woman was initially declared a person of interest. The suspect, said to be a Russian national, was arrested on multiple charges including felony conspiracy, burglary and home theft, aggravated assault, and possession of a weapon.

Local media said the victim had withdrawn €70,000 from the bank and closed down his account following the death of his wife, as he was planning to travel back home to Russia for good just hours before the reported incident.

Previous reports described the suspect as a family friend or an acquaintance of the victim, with additional media saying the woman was thought to have been the only person who knew about the money.