FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – A Cypriot court on Monday rejected a request to release Israeli businessman Simon Aykut from custody on medical grounds, ruling that local diagnostic and treatment options are sufficient.
The 75-year-old, facing charges related to the alleged unlawful appropriation of property in Turkish-occupied northern Cyprus, had sought permission to travel abroad for specialized medical tests. His defense argued that robotic diagnostic methods unavailable in Cyprus were essential due to signs of a serious health condition.
In her ruling, Criminal Court President Christiana Parpota said three diagnostic methods are available in Cyprus and their reliability was not disputed. The court found no evidence that these methods are inferior to the robotic MRI Fusion technique offered abroad.
The court also noted that the same MRI Fusion test is available locally using manual procedures, which are considered equivalent in diagnostic value. It concluded that the defense failed to demonstrate any violation of the defendant’s rights stemming from the lack of robotic equipment.