On Monday, the Larnaca Permanent Criminal Court rejected as premature the 48-year-old defendant’s motion to dismiss the case involving torture in Pyla on the grounds of abuse of process. The case has been set for July 30, when the two defendants will be called upon to answer the serious charges they face.

The two defendants, aged 48 and 27, appeared today before the Larnaca Permanent Criminal Court under tight security measures.

In its motion, which was rejected by the court, the defense had argued that two separate cases had been filed against the defendant: one concerning the incidents outside the Larnaca Police Headquarters and one regarding the torture at a property in Pyla, and that, in their view, these should have been included in a single indictment.

Today, his motion was rejected by the Larnaca Permanent Criminal Court as premature since, as noted, the current evidence clearly cannot support his claim of abuse of process.

The case has been scheduled for July 30 for the two defendants to respond to the charges.

The first defendant faces charges relating to subjecting a person to torture, depriving a person of liberty with the intent to place that person at risk of serious bodily injury, causing serious bodily injury, assaults resulting in actual bodily injury, and extortion through threats.

The second defendant, aged 27, faces charges related to deprivation of liberty, subjecting a person to torture, and assault.

There are six victims. They include three Cypriots, one of whom is outside Cyprus; an Indian who is outside Cyprus; and an Arab who is in Cyprus. The sixth victim appears to be a European citizen, and efforts are underway to identify him.

The Larnaca CID is continuing its investigation.