The Afik Group case: landowners claim they never gave consent for construction

Today, September 10, 2025, the trial of Simon Mistreli Aykut — CEO of Afik Group, who is being held in custody in Southern Cyprus — continued. He is accused of illegal activities related to the use and development of Greek Cypriot lands located in the territory of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).

Five witnesses were questioned at the hearing, including land registry officials and owners of the disputed plots.

The first to testify was Irini Posporidou, an employee of the Paralimni Land Office. She confirmed her police statement from February 17, 2025, and explained that she had provided the authorities with a list of 19 plots in the “Gastria” (Kaledjik) area, where illegal construction was underway. Posporidou noted that the cadastral maps date back to the pre-war period, while later changes — converting fractional numbers into whole numbers — resulted from modernization after 1974. Records are kept based on ownership documents and with the involvement of local authorities.

Witness Marias Milona Kyprianou from the village of Tatlısu (Akanthou) stated that she is the heir to her late mother’s land. According to her, about two years ago she discovered that construction had begun on this land without the family’s consent. She also mentioned that she had been offered to sell the plot through a lawyer, but the family refused and did not apply to the Immovable Property Commission.

Another witness was Stavros Erosimou, also from Tatlısu, testifying on behalf of his cousins — owners of a plot in the “Vasilikes” area. Despite objections from the defense, the court accepted his testimony. Erosimou said that although the exact boundaries of the plot are not clearly defined, he observed construction work over a large area.

Theognosia Sotiriou from Ayios Amvrosios (Esentepe) said that together with her relatives, she inherited land in the “Kokkinorafa” area, where construction has also been ongoing over the past two to three years. She stressed that neither she nor her family had sold the plot.

The last witness was Yorgos Papageorgiou, who testified on behalf of his father suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. He stated that his father owns land in Tatlısu and had never sold it nor permitted construction. Information about the buildings on the plot came to them from the police.

The court plans to summon all owners, heirs, and users of the disputed lands as witnesses in the criminal proceedings. The next hearing is scheduled for September 15, 2025.