Appeals court denies bail for German real estate agent accused of property usurpation

The Nicosia Court of Appeal has upheld the detention of a German real estate agent accused of the usurpation of Greek-Cypriot properties in the occupied territories. The three-member panel issued a unanimous decision on Monday, finding no grounds to overturn the original court's refusal to grant bail. The court emphasized that current detention conditions and legal arguments regarding human rights did not warrant a change in the custody order, which has been repeatedly validated. The defendant's lawyer, Sotiris Argyrou, had argued for her release, citing difficulties in preparing an adequate defense while in the Central Prisons. Separately, court documents describe a complex legal case involving another individual facing charges related to the incident at the Agios Dometios crossing on March 3, 2026. The accused in that related matter face charges including conspiracy to commit a felony, money laundering, and assaulting police officers during an attempted escape. The appellate decision ensures that both defendants remain in custody pending trial at the Nicosia Criminal Court.