Convicted property usurper Shimon Aykut transferred to Israel

Shimon Aykut, a 75-year-old Israeli national, has been transferred to Israel to serve the remainder of his prison sentence for the illegal usurpation of Greek Cypriot property in the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus. The Nicosia Criminal Court had previously sentenced Aykut to five years in prison after he pleaded guilty to 40 charges of fraudulent real estate transactions involving 394,969 square meters of land valued at approximately €38.9 million. These offenses, committed over a period of 10 years and 5 months, involved the construction of large tourist and residential complexes by the Afik Group without the consent of the original owners. Justice Minister Costas Fytiris authorized the transfer following a formal request from the Israeli government, citing international legal obligations regarding the repatriation of prisoners. According to the terms of the transfer, Aykut will serve the balance of his sentence, which began on June 19, 2024, under the legal framework of Israel. While the case sparked public discourse regarding the treatment of property usurpers, the Ministry of Justice maintained that all necessary legal procedures were strictly followed. Once the transfer was completed on Friday, the responsibility for his continued incarceration shifted to Israeli authorities.