The Supreme Court of Cyprus has granted permission to file an application for a prerogative writ of certiorari in connection with a search warrant issued in February 2026 for a casino in Larnaca.
The decision, dated 17 March 2026, relates to an ongoing investigation involving video footage allegedly depicting torture, acts of violence and unlawful detention, discovered on a mobile phone.
According to the ruling, the applicant, who manages the premises, is seeking to challenge the legality of the search warrant, arguing that there was insufficient evidence linking the property to the offences under investigation.
Series of offences
The court noted that, in order for such permission to be granted, an applicant must demonstrate an arguable case. It reiterated that prerogative writs are issued only in exceptional circumstances, such as where there is a lack or excess of jurisdiction, an error of law, or a breach of natural justice.
Material presented in support of the original warrant application indicated that police were investigating the applicant and two other individuals for a series of serious offences allegedly committed in 2025. These include grievous bodily harm, failure to prevent a felony, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault, possession of offensive weapons, and carrying weapons with intent to cause fear.
The investigation was later expanded to include alleged offences in January 2026, including unlawful possession and transport of explosive materials, extortion, demands with menaces, participation in a criminal organisation, and issuing threats. Two mobile phones were seized as evidence at the time of the applicant’s arrest.
Torture
A forensic examination of one of the devices reportedly uncovered numerous photographs and videos showing six individuals, on different dates, being held against their will in what appeared to be the same room. The footage allegedly shows the applicant and another individual shouting at, threatening, and physically assaulting the individuals, at times using weapons. In two instances, the applicant is said to have held a firearm and placed it in a victim’s mouth.
However, the court emphasised that the key issue at this stage was not the existence of the footage, but whether there was sufficient evidence linking the specific premises to the alleged acts.
It observed that the only reference connecting the property to the incidents was a general statement that the videos had been recorded within areas of the casino. The court found this assertion to be vague and lacking in detail, noting that it did not explain the basis of that conclusion or how the premises were identified.
'Arguable case'
The fact that the applicant is the manager of the premises was also found to be insufficient, on its own, to establish a connection between the location and the alleged offences.
“At this stage, it appears that no such evidence was placed before the court that would allow it to determine a link between the premises and the events,” the ruling stated, adding that reliance had been placed solely on the sworn statement of the investigating officer.
On that basis, the court concluded that an arguable case had been raised in relation to the sufficiency of evidence, as well as the necessity and reasonable cause for issuing the warrant.
However, it rejected a separate argument concerning the purpose of DNA sampling, finding that the warrant had been issued for a lawful purpose under the relevant legislation.
Permission has therefore been granted for the filing of a certiorari application, which will be considered at a later stage.