The 43-year-old suspect in the disappearance of 61-year-old Olga Vasilyeva appeared before Limassol District Court on Saturday, as authorities investigate offences of premeditated murder and abduction with intent to commit premeditated murder.
The 61-year-old has been missing from her home since 21 October, while her disappearance was reported to police on 28 October.
The suspect was remanded in custody for six days as investigations continue. A forensic examination of the suspect's vehicle by the Police Forensic Science Department is considered crucial, as there are indications it may have been involved in the case.
According to evidence presented in court, the investigating officer said there were strong indications that the 61-year-old woman is no longer alive. He stated that she had not communicated with any relatives since 21 October, her mobile phone had been switched off, and her dog was found malnourished at her home, despite witness accounts that she did not usually leave it alone.
At the same time, her vehicle had remained abandoned since that date, while she also failed to attend an important professional appointment. The investigator further stated that the woman had not left the Republic of Cyprus nor travelled to the occupied areas.
The 43-year-old was located on Friday at Larnaca airport, where he was due to leave Cyprus on a flight to Beirut. Police asked him to accompany officers and an arrest warrant was subsequently issued.
According to the investigator, the suspect purchased his airline tickets at 5 a.m. on 29 October, only a few hours after media reports about the disappearance of the 61-year-old were published. The suspect claimed he had decided to travel urgently after learning that a close acquaintance was suffering from a serious incurable illness.
The "accident" and demands for tens of thousands of euros
Particular interest centres on claims made by police in their application for the suspect's detention regarding financial demands he allegedly made of the 61-year-old woman, with whom he had been in a romantic relationship for approximately five months.
According to testimony from the missing woman's lawyer, who cited information from her son, the suspect had told the 61-year-old that he had been involved in a road traffic accident for which he was responsible and that the other driver was seeking compensation of between €60,000 and €70,000.
The woman allegedly suggested returning a necklace he had given her, which he had told her was worth €10,000. The 43-year-old initially refused and told her he would travel to Syria to obtain the money.
However, according to the police application, checks of police records found no report linking the suspect to any road traffic accident.
At the same time, an informant told police that the 43-year-old persistently demanded money from the woman and was particularly angry about her refusal, knowing that she had substantial financial means.
According to police, the suspect admitted during questioning that he had lied to the 61-year-old about compensation claims arising from the alleged accident in an effort to obtain money from her.
He claimed that he had in fact been involved in a traffic accident, although he was not responsible, and argued that he sought from her between €15,000 and €20,000 rather than €60,000 to €70,000.
He also admitted that the necklace was fake and that he had created a forged certificate of authenticity, presenting it as jewellery worth between €9,000 and €10,000 in order to exploit her financially.
According to his account, the woman returned the necklace to him for sale after refusing to give him money.
The scream and the vehicle
The court also heard testimony from a resident living near the suspect's home, who stated that on a previous day, without specifying the exact date, he heard a woman's scream coming from the suspect's residence and saw his vehicle at the scene.
According to further evidence presented by police, two people arrived at the suspect's home on 21 October in a grey vehicle matching the description of the car used by the suspect.
Approximately one hour and 15 minutes later, one of the individuals exited the property and reversed the vehicle so that its rear was positioned against the front gate.
The person then appeared to open the boot and place something inside before leaving alone in the vehicle.
In his statement, the suspect admitted meeting the 61-year-old on the day she disappeared at a specific location in Linopetra, where she had parked her car.
He claimed they then travelled together to his home, where they remained for about two hours and had a sexual encounter.
According to his account, he later drove her back to her vehicle and she told him she was going for a trip to the north with a friend.
However, according to information obtained by police, the suspect is believed to have been with the 61-year-old in the Moni area on the afternoon of 21 October, where the last signal from her mobile phone was recorded.
Investigations into bank accounts
In addition to the various investigations already under way, police are seeking access to the bank accounts of both the missing woman and the suspect in order to determine whether any financial transactions took place between them or whether any cash withdrawals were made.
As part of the investigation, officers found €4,620 in cash in the suspect's possession, along with foreign currency including Russian roubles.
Police also found two switched-off mobile phones and two sets of women's underwear in his luggage, all of which form part of the evidence under examination.
Investigators are expected to take around 85 statements, examine a large volume of CCTV footage and conduct further searches for evidence, while efforts to locate the 61-year-old woman continue.
