In Cyprus, a Turkish Cypriot who apprehended the suspects in the murder of Ayça Alav has been arrested

Three men have been arrested in the Republic of Cyprus for finding and apprehending two suspects in the brutal murder of 45-year-old businesswoman Ayça Alav from Nicosia, handing them over to the police in Northern Cyprus.

They are charged with kidnapping and the illegal detention of individuals. By court decision, they will remain in custody for 8 days.

According to media reports, the individuals involved include 46-year-old Turkish Cypriot Hüseyin Demirel, a permanent resident in the Republic of Cyprus, and two Greek Cypriot men aged 37 and 47.

It is known that Hüseyin Demirel, along with his Greek Cypriot friends, learned about the involvement of two Cameroonian citizens in the high-profile murder of the owner of the Hit-Bit currency exchange point in Nicosia, Ayça Alav, which occurred on December 22 last year. After committing the murder, the suspects in the audacious crime fled to Southern Cyprus. They were on the run for 18 days.

Information about the arrest of the fugitives appeared in the media on January 9. It was revealed that Hüseyin Demirel discovered the suspects in Cyprus. To apprehend the perpetrators, he gained their trust and convinced them that he would help them cross into Egypt. When the alleged criminals got into the car, he, with the help of two friends, tied their hands with wire and then handed them over to the TRNC police at the Pergamos checkpoint in Beyarmudu.

During the court hearing, the three arrested individuals were charged with conspiracy to commit a crime, abduction, kidnapping, or deprivation of liberty with the purpose of secret and unjust detention, possession, and transportation of handcuffs without permission, and participation in a criminal organization.

The Cyprus Police suspects that Hüseyin Demirel is a "bounty hunter" who may have worked for the reward announced by Ayça Alav's husband for capturing the suspects in her murder.

However, in court, the 46-year-old man stated that he did not plan the abduction and arrest of the two Cameroonians.