Charge ruling today: Prosecution files amended charges for Cypriot brothers
The High Court in Suva will deliver its ruling in the case of two Cyprus brothers who were previously facing money laundering charges today.
This is in the case of Loizos Petridis, 42, and Cleanthis Petridis, 46, who face charges involving the withdrawal of money from automated teller machines (ATMs) in Suva. The two brothers, represented by lawyer Filimoni Vosarogo, appeared before Judge Justice Thushara Rajasinghe yesterday. The state prosecution was represented by Jayneeta Prasad and Saif Shah from the Office of the DPP.
Loizos and Cleanthis were facing charges of one count each of money laundering, of attempt to obtain property by deception and of possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime. However, the DPP had filed an amended Information in the matter yesterday.
They are now facing one count each of obtaining property by deception, of attempt to obtain property by deception and of possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crimes. Ms Prasad told the court that as per the amended charges, the prosecution was of the view that as the matter was initially transferred by the learned Magistrate on the charge of money
laundering the High Court did not have any jurisdiction to hear the matter as the jurisdiction was from the money laundering charges.
Mr Vosarogo agreed with the prosecution’s submission. Justice Rajasinghe adjourned the matter to today (Thursday) to deliver his ruling.
Both brothers were further remanded.
The charges:
Obtaining property by deception: It is alleged that the brothers, between December 12 and December 19, 2017, at Suva, by deception, dishonestly obtained $12,500 from Bank of the South Pacific with the intention of permanently depriving BSP of the said amount. Attempt to obtain property by deception: It is alleged that between December 12 and December 19, 2017, at Suva, both brothers by deception attempted to dishonestly obtain $17,900 from Bank of South Pacific, with the intention of permanently depriving the bank of the said amount.
Possession of property suspected of being proceeds of crime: It is alleged that the brothers, between December 12 and December 19, 2017, at Suva, possessed $203,011 that may reasonably be suspected of being proceeds of crime.