Ukrainian Suspect Unable to Pay Bail in Cyprus Money Laundering Case

The court has remanded in custody, pending trial, a 31-year-old Ukrainian woman accused of money laundering in Cyprus. She is accused of laundering around 8 million euros but was unable to pay the bail that would have allowed her release.

According to local media reports, the Larnaca District Court set bail at 150,000 euros, with a guarantee of 50,000 euros from a reliable guarantor, a travel ban from Cyprus, and mandatory appearances at the Limassol police station three times. However, after the woman failed to pay the set bail amount, she was transferred to the central prison in Nicosia.

Recall that the Ukrainian woman's arrest in Cyprus became known on March 1, after the 31-year-old woman reported being robbed in Limassol. According to the victim, two unknown individuals on a motorcycle snatched her purse containing 420,000 euros. The Ukrainian citizen claimed that the money was intended for purchasing an apartment.

However, the police did not believe the robbery story and arrested her on suspicion of money laundering. Despite the stolen money being declared, the police deemed her explanations about the origin of the money insufficient.

It later emerged that the woman had made a total of 15 trips to the island over seven months, declaring large sums of money to customs officials upon each arrival.

After the case was referred to the Larnaca Criminal Court, it became known that the detained Ukrainian woman is suspected of laundering around 8 million euros. She faces 60 charges. The trial is scheduled to begin in May.