Defendant pleads guilty to car theft linked to Limassol murder case

On September 16, 2026, the Permanent Criminal Court of Limassol heard the final plea of 30-year-old Charalambos Savva, who admitted to orchestrating the theft of a priest’s car. This case is part of a broader investigation into the mafia-style murder of businessman Stavros Demosthenous, which took place in Limassol on October 17, 2025.

According to the prosecution, led by Andreas Hadjikyrou, Savva instructed an accomplice to steal a Mitsubishi Colt worth €4,000 on October 5, 2025, after identifying that the priest frequently left the keys inside the vehicle while attending prayers. The car was later recovered by police on October 14, 2025, fitted with false registration plates and believed to have been prepared for use in the planning of the murder. While six suspects were originally charged, proceedings against two others were discontinued, leaving Savva as the sole defendant for this specific theft charge.

The court has reserved sentencing for Savva until September 23, 2026. This date also aligns with the next scheduled proceedings for three co-defendants who are still facing charges related directly to the murder of Stavros Demosthenous.