LARNACA businessman Antonis Fanieros will remain behind bars until December 2, the Supreme Court has ruled.

Fanieros’ lawyers had appealed a court decision decreeing that Fanieros, 67, remain in police custody until his trial commences. The Supreme Court yesterday rejected the appeal on the grounds that releasing Fanieros may result in the influencing of material witnesses.

Speaking to reporters as he was leaving the courthouse, Fanieros said he would pursue the matter with the European Court of Human Rights.

His son Loucas spoke of a “conspiracy” engineered by police, claiming that his father was being persecuted based on trumped-up charges. He also threatened to reveal details of this conspiracy to the media.

Fanieros was arrested during a police raid on September 23. He faces a string of charges – including conspiracy to commit a felony, arson, participation in a criminal organisation and extortion—the majority of which were allegedly committed between 2010 and this year.

Last month he and three more individuals were charged with a total of 28 criminal offences

Cyprus Mail