Police confiscate Cypriot’s casino winnings

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 12:11

Police in north confiscate Greek Cypriot’s casino winnings

By Jean Christou



A GREEK Cypriot man who won €30,000 at a casino in the north was arrested and had the money confiscated by Turkish Cypriot police on his way back through the Ayios Dhometios crossing.



According to Afrika newspaper the man, only identified as Fotis, was treated as “a foreigner attempting to take more than the legal limit in cash out of the country”.



Fotis was arrested and bailed for €10,000 plus an additional €1,000 he had to pay to a Turkish Cypriot lawyer. His casino winnings were confiscated as evidence.



It is not known whether Turkish Cypriot police at the crossing were tipped off by the casino that Fotis was carrying a substantial amount of money.



But for Afrika newspaper the issue was how Fotis was treated as a foreigner in his own country.



“You would think that he was from Syria, Jordan, Arabia or Egypt, but definitely not from Turkey. If he had been from Turkey, would he be considered

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 12:19

Despicable and racist treatment if true, and I hope this bloke gets all his money back plus compensation from Turkey.

Bowman


Joined: 02/05/2007
Posts: 256

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 12:33

Its got nothing to do with Turkey.

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 12:37

Bowman,



Turkey is in charge of north Cyprus.

ukturk



Joined: 01/09/2007
Posts: 1974

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 13:34

i have heard this happen to a few people not just greek, but at the end of the day the law is the law you cant smuggle money in and out of the country and there is a limit what you can bring or take out of the country, this is the law in nearly every country and the authorites have the right to take it and its up to you to prove you have not earned it imorrally

and this story if true the bloke will get his money back once it goes to court and he proves that!!!

ohh please pike not everything boils down to turkey and what has it got to do with them what the turkish cypriot customs and courts how they carry out their own north cypriot constitution and laws so why shud turkey compensate him

MICK THE FISH


Joined: 27/05/2008
Posts: 180

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 13:37

I believe that 10,000.00 Euro is the 'EU' maximum you can cross international borders with - without a declaration.

tonyhickey



Joined: 13/06/2007
Posts: 413

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 13:51

win some lose some thats gambling

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 14:20

i agree with ukturk.



what does it have to do with turkey?

the turkish part of the family gets just as much racism against them here in the trnc as we brits do.

the racist mentality is showing its uggly head a lot in recent times.

this guy wasn't even leaving the country!

what happen to "cyprus for all cypriots?"

craig2536


Joined: 09/06/2007
Posts: 277

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 14:40

I think the problem is that he did not declare the money.It is not in anyway in the casinos interest for him to be stopped and this money taken from him. Most of the casinos here are surviving during the week on the greek side business. Much much bigger sums of money are gambled away everyday by this group of players.

Elliecy


Joined: 21/07/2008
Posts: 153

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 14:47

Do the casinos make customers aware of these limits? If not, it gives the impression that its ok for foreigners to spend their money and gamble there, but then what happens if they do win a reasonable amount? What if a tourist won it? It does make it difficult, although the law is the law.

No1Doyen


Joined: 04/07/2008
Posts: 16617

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 15:07

Perhaps the border guards were 'tipped' off. He should be allowed to keep the money.

fire starter


Joined: 19/06/2008
Posts: 3401

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 15:09

suzanne

i agree, when ever we have brought money into the trnc we have never been asked to prove where we got it. not even by the bank.



we have been asked by a few cypriots though, did we rob the bank and come to cyprus to hide? lol.

they think anyone who can afford not to work is a bank robber!

the answer to that is NO we did not!!!!!!!!



our friend who is an iranian did get questioned though in hsbc in girne over 8k in euros. they even accused him of being a terrorist!



he was a student here funded by his parents! he didn't bank with them after that!

ukturk



Joined: 01/09/2007
Posts: 1974

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 15:34

sue

here we go again now what has crimminals earning money imorraly got to do with a guy who won his money in a casino irespective of where they come from!!!!

yes i am telling you if a turk or a foerigner enters turkey with more than 10k sterling run the risk of getting it taken of them if they dont declare it, like i said its not just turkey and cyprus its everywhere in the world goverments and organisations have to uphold the money laundering laws

ukturk

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 16:23

fire starter: "what does it have to do with turkey?"



Everything, unfortunately. It's nothing to do with racism. The TRNC has no basis in law therefore legal actions concerning events in north Cyprus have to be taken against the country exercising control there. Turkey, in other words. You only have to look at ECHR and UN judgements, which are all against Turkey.

ukturk



Joined: 01/09/2007
Posts: 1974

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 16:36

hi sue

the laundering laws are supposed to be uphold by banks and the casinos and other organisations in cyprus because they are registerd in turkey which uphold these regulations

not that i know but these crimanals prob deposit their dirty money into cypriot banks who are not reconised and they dont need to uphold to any charter which is wrong that why north cyprus needs to be reconised to stamp out these kind of people and get them thrown out and dealt with

ukturk

craig2536


Joined: 09/06/2007
Posts: 277

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 16:44

it is not possible for a casino to tell a customer "oh you have won enough today you cannot take it with you today because of the cash limits at the border ' . The player could have got a receipt from the casino and declared this money at the border. I am sure he did nt want to declare this cash because of his tax liabilities in the Greek side. He would be on the tax mans radar in a split second. Most casinos have unofficial travel agent offices in Turkey where the money that they win and lose here is either paid or collected. Payment is in cash.

What relevance is it about real criminals taking money in and out of the country. This happens the world over, always has and always will.

craig2536


Joined: 09/06/2007
Posts: 277

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 16:49

This is very bad publicity for casinos on the island and none of them would "tip off" the authorities , Its a no win situation for them. The customer , his friends etc and the money that he won will not return here. Casino business is all about getting customers in to your premises, keeping them there as long as possible and even when the customer loses, they should leave having a positive feeling of their night.

brandy sour


Joined: 09/04/2008
Posts: 310

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 18:00

Yes i agree with craig2536 their not bothered if you are from the south as long as your money is good and you spend loads of money win or loose.

craig2536


Joined: 09/06/2007
Posts: 277

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 18:06

In a casino cash is king. A dollar bill isnt racist.

deecyprus4


Joined: 27/07/2008
Posts: 3452

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 19:23

suzanne it would have been 1 country if the greeks voted yes in 2004

RedSnapper


Joined: 12/08/2008
Posts: 540

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 19:35

i was with my two mates in the casino at the side of the roundabout near the ferry port when one of them had won $1600 and they got a real face on,i wondered if we were going to get out in one piece.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 21:28

I would thought that any country has currecy regulation as to how much CASH you can bring into there country.So it doesnt matter whether he is greek cypriot /turkish cypriot, if he is bringing in more than the allowance he will have it confiscated and could actually be prosecuted by that country.I watcha programme here in the UK called"Anything to declare" and its about Ossie Customs Officers checking all and sundrie about what they are bringing into OZZ. They have a$A10000limit on the amount of CASH you can bring into the country and I would be surprised if that did not apply in this fellows case....

elko2



Joined: 24/07/2007
Posts: 4400

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 21:42

The official limit is 10,000 American dollars or equivalent per person. You can transfer as much as you like through banks. The main aim is to stop money laundering.

There are those who complain about money laundering as well as anything done to stop it. It is called Turkey bashing at every opportunity at the cost of looking foolish but who cares, after a couple of times it looks so normal to them. Carry on Pike and Suzanne, this is a small forum and you have the liberty to look as you like

ismet

karakum5c



Joined: 18/03/2008
Posts: 1021

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 22:08

Well said Ismet as usual. May the FORCE BE WITH YOU ALWAYS MASTER

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 22:28

The big fishes in the small pond love minnows sucking up to them.

karakum5c



Joined: 18/03/2008
Posts: 1021

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 22:42

Pike was that the best you could come up with , PATHETIC !

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 22:48

Deeply intelligent and thought-provoking words, Karakum5c. Clearly a Weegie who has much to share.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 22:50

fire starter...



If squinty Lupton is in the casinos all the time then he'll soon be bereft of funds...



Then and only then can he f-off... (TRNC Gov Reg 2008)

karakum5c



Joined: 18/03/2008
Posts: 1021

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 22:56

Pike why if you hate the TRNC so much and the TURKISH CYPRIOT people do you choose to live among them.

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 23:01

I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed man.

karakum5c



Joined: 18/03/2008
Posts: 1021

Message Posted:
24/10/2008 23:20

Pike--- "discrimination against or antagonism towards other races"

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 12:18

Pike "I refuse to have a battle of wits with an unarmed man. "



Unlike the GCs who relished a fight to the death with an unarmed man?



Pike you really are outrageous....

paulnicholas


Joined: 14/01/2007
Posts: 69

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 12:34

See what you started Nige.

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 13:00

Groucho msg 35,



Which country was found guilty by an international court of murdering unarmed civilians and surrendered prisoners and conducting mass rape in 1974? Greek Cyprus or Turkey? You appear to have problems with reality old son.

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 13:09

i thought that was uk in northern ireland ?

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 13:20

I thought this thread was about whether abloke wa right or wrong about takingalarge amount of undecalared cash from one country to another NOT athread for political criticism on indviduals beliefs o the NC/GC situation...

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 13:21

Try again, Nige. You have to pick one of the two options.

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 13:52

Pike you seem to set a lot of store by an international court... but things have moved on and history is no longer only written by Christians....



Leading up to the 1974 Turkish intervention in Cyprus please tell us what atrocities were carried out by Greek Cypriots inspired by hopes of gaining complete ownership of the island...



I want to know how much you know and how much you are hiding....

Littlenige



Joined: 24/12/2006
Posts: 3594

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 13:57

awwww THATS NOT FAIR i want to name and shame apeasnicks to

karakum5c



Joined: 18/03/2008
Posts: 1021

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 14:51

"The Greek Cypriots only defended themselves did not carry out any atrocities against their Turkish neighbours instead they sent their humanitarian relief organisation known as EOKA to visit late at night to bring help and support" GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PIKE.

stubs


Joined: 01/07/2008
Posts: 641

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 15:17

"Pike you seem to set a lot of store by an international court... but things have moved on and history is no longer only written by Christians....

Leading up to the 1974 Turkish intervention in Cyprus please tell us what atrocities were carried out by Greek Cypriots inspired by hopes of gaining complete ownership of the island...

I want to know how much you know and how much you are hiding.... "



Groucho



Are you saying that things previously written were discriminatory against non-christians?



Turkey did intervene however are classed as invaders as they are still there after 34 years. Guaranteeing the soverignity of the ROC is one thing still being there after all this time in the eyes of the international community makes them invaders.

brandy sour


Joined: 09/04/2008
Posts: 310

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 17:29

This discussion has gone side ways again i wonder who,s fault that was.

ukturk



Joined: 01/09/2007
Posts: 1974

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 17:55

yes brandy once again!!!

nothing can be posted no more on here without people saying their two pence's worth on how turkey is at fault with everything that goes on in the world!!!!

ok have your say when it has some sort of relavance but not every single subject that appears on this forum getting a bit tedious now!!!!

Superscousers


Joined: 25/10/2008
Posts: 71

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 17:51

Never ceases to amaze me how an intelligent and interesting posting gets dragged into the mire by biggoted people who seem to thrive on creating mischief. whatever the subject ! Import laws and money laundering or no different in the uk or cyprus. If you dont have permission to import certain goods or large amounts of money expect it to be confiscated.

cyprusishome


Joined: 31/03/2007
Posts: 2381

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 20:04

Everyone knows the restrictions on trnsfering money in and out of TRNC.



The easy thing for "big gamblers" would be to open a bank account here and place the money there before transfering to where ever.



Sorry, that brings it back to an earlier post, this person would not want the authorities to know!!!!!!!!



Then back to the conspiracy theory which is the most plausible to me, someone at the casino had a grudge and phoned the authorities.

newlad



Joined: 02/03/2008
Posts: 7819

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 20:09

Superscousers,

You will get used to the odd difference of opinion on here.Welcome to the mad house,

Paul.

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 20:10

I wonder how many Turks stroll off into the sunset with their $$$ and how many Greek Cypriots get arrested and have it it taken off them. This one we know about, but I wonder about others.

Harold2555



Joined: 19/04/2008
Posts: 1139

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 20:14

Private Pike



Such speculation does your more legitimate posts no favours. You are only undermining your arguements that you base on "facts" by speculation that shows a bias (unless of course you have evidence and are just being coy)



P

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 20:49

harold,



Read more carefully. If someone is "wondering" about something then they are inviting anyone with facts to step right in. Do you know anything about the subject?

wackyjim



Joined: 04/06/2007
Posts: 760

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 21:20

Pike

With all the trouble Turkey has caused in Cyprus and in particular how it upsets you do you not think its high time it was nuked off the planet??????

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 21:25

I meant sensible suggestions, Jim. Mind you, if you were talking about Dundee...

Groucho



Joined: 26/04/2008
Posts: 7993

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 21:26

Pike you know very well that you are starting a rumour under the guise of "wondering"... it's just another chance for you to have a dig at Turks... thinly (very) disguised as a request for facts you know won't be forthcoming as nobody would have facts to compare GC v TCs...



If you are such a great investigative journalist (never seen any evidence of this) why don't you get the facts and report back... until then your speculation is as meaningless as it's possible to imagine even you could get...

wackyjim



Joined: 04/06/2007
Posts: 760

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 21:27

Pike

Yep Dundee FC could do with being re arranged with high explosives no question about it.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 22:22

Hi all ...It seems that some people cannot stay on the original thread if there lives depende on it ,always got to bring the political situation to the fore front. why on earth they live inthe TRNC is beyond me cos all they seemto want to do is stir up the s..t so they sound is if they are the be all and end all of the cyprus situation.If they want to politicians why dont they come home and stand for government herecos they give me the impression that they can do better than politicians here as well as CYPRUS but then they probably would be shown up for how little they really know...

Superscousers


Joined: 25/10/2008
Posts: 71

Message Posted:
25/10/2008 23:38

Hi, Back to the original posting ! It would not matter if the person was a g/c or a t/c rules are rules and customs officers sometimes they can be jobs worths but, they are only carrying out there duties. I for one have been a victim of this . Travelling from the UK to Larnaca and then to the TRNC unknown to my self I took in goods (on the roof rack of my hire car ) and was stopped by custums who confiscated the goods and offered them back to me at the full retail price plus 30% import duty. Take note at the border crossing it states that you can take with you presents to the value of 130 euros this item was a little bit more than this in fact £124.00 But certain goods are not eligible to be taken to either side without an import licence (same as the UK.)

Biker



Joined: 11/01/2008
Posts: 396

Message Posted:
28/10/2008 17:44

Suzanne

You quote "he should be entitled to bring his winnings home Cyprus is one country!"



I cannot even take 1 hellim cheese out of North Cyprus but I can from South Cyprus.



Is this the meaning of being one country. Can you explain this one.

breezyboy


Joined: 14/05/2007
Posts: 1179

Message Posted:
28/10/2008 18:47

Why is this problem racist?

If I leave the UK for TRNC with more than 10000 Euros I risk having it all confiscated. I know that and if I dont declare it on a form available at all airports I have no reason to complain if I loose it all. The law is the law in any country and ignorance of it is no defence neither is hiding behind a race isssue as an excuse.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
28/10/2008 21:08

It is apitty some of you cannot watch Sky over there .Ther is a programme called "Anything to Declare". Its about Ozzie customs checking people coming into their country.You would be amazed at some the stunts peopletry to get away with,even when they are given a card explaining in several different languages the do"s and dont"s... and I feel sure the bloke knew very well that he was breaking the law.At this moment in time Cyprus is 2 different countries ,NOT one as some seem to think...

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
28/10/2008 21:55

suzanne..It used to be called Cyprus when I was stationed there in the 60"s but since the Demarcation 1n !974 We now have 2 seperate contries whether you like it or not.You have TRNC and the ROC each with there own Governments and Custom controls,to methat means 2 sperate countries......If you cannot see that then the politicians who are trying to unify the 2 states are obviously wasting there time....

MUSIN M


Joined: 26/06/2008
Posts: 1352

Message Posted:
28/10/2008 23:00

yes they are trying to reunify ,



but as a whole it,s still cyprus always has been and always will be ,



THE ONE YOU ARE REFERRING TOO IS NOT RECOGNISED OR HADN,T YOU NOTICED.



you are a very nice greek person,thanks for the info .



so all in all the money that has been confiscated ,doesn,t really exist .



end of i think.



musin



long live the kktc

ukturk



Joined: 01/09/2007
Posts: 1974

Message Posted:
29/10/2008 01:38

no musin you got it wrong the money does exist but it is not reconised so it wud have been no good to the greek cypriot bringing it back home to the reconised cyprus because all the shops and banks over their would have not accepted it lol

sue make up your mind one min u r saying he shud have been allowed to bring his money thru to the south cos its one country then the next min u r saying the north is not reconised and is seperate so wot part of the north is reconised to you then?

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
29/10/2008 13:15

Suzanne..As long as they have seperate governments and seperate borders then they are 2 seperate countries.Why is the South referred and recognised as The ROC and not just Cyprus. Sorry but you will not convince until the whole island is under one goverment....

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
29/10/2008 13:37

COACHIE: "At this moment in time Cyprus is 2 different countries ,NOT one as some seem to think."



Oh?

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
29/10/2008 13:40

COACHIE: "Why is the South referred and recognised as The ROC and not just Cyprus. Sorry but you will not convince until the whole island is under one goverment."



Because since Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960 the WHOLE island has been referred to as the Republic of Cyprus. I think you have fallen for some joker at the estate agents.

Biker



Joined: 11/01/2008
Posts: 396

Message Posted:
29/10/2008 14:16

"Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960 the WHOLE island has been referred to as the Republic of Cyprus"



A lot water has flown under that bridge since 1960, One member of the forming government has been pushed out so Greeks got control of the supposedly "Cyprus government" and Turks have been forced to setup their their own government and govern themselves since then.



These are the facts not fiction.



Do not live in a dream world saying that it is one country and 1 government and the other one is recognised.



What next, Are we going to have claims that all people in Cyprus are Greek descendents and talk Greek and they are all Christians?



Mind you I will not be surprised if it says that in the Greek history books already.

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
29/10/2008 15:07

PvtPike/Suzanne..I am not under any body elses ideas.The simple fact is ,if I want to travel from Larnaca in the south of island to Kyrenia in the north of the island I have to cross aborder manned by both GCand TC peopleand involves me producing passport and paying any duties that I may have to pay.Now if that is not 2 countries then I dont know what is,And I dont want any Crap About one is recognised and the other isnt.One Island.2 countries at this moment in time..sorry..

PtePike



Joined: 20/05/2008
Posts: 2334

Message Posted:
29/10/2008 16:51

Biker: "What next, Are we going to have claims that all people in Cyprus are Greek descendents and talk Greek and they are all Christians?"



Funny you should say that, because if you are indeed of Turkish Cypriot descent then it's more than likely you will have Christian, Greek Cypriot blood in you. In some cases it can be as much as 50-50 and in others 100%. Bet you're glad to have such an excellent mix, eh?

Coachie



Joined: 29/07/2008
Posts: 2135

Message Posted:
29/10/2008 18:25

suzanne..I do not have any problems with who will eventually end up governing ROC one way or another thats for them to decide, but If you cannot see my point about there being a border to cross from one side to the other then a visit to Specsavers is required....

Biker



Joined: 11/01/2008
Posts: 396

Message Posted:
29/10/2008 18:35

Pike

You quote:

"if you are indeed of Turkish Cypriot descent then it's more than likely you will have Christian, Greek Cypriot blood in you. In some cases it can be as much as 50-50 and in others 100%"



You are talking utter crap again. This is the most astonishing piece of ridicilous remark I have heard in my life.



What do you base this on? Where do you get your information from wise guy?



Biker

billlfc



Joined: 04/11/2008
Posts: 69

Message Posted:
10/12/2008 10:02

I worked in casino,s 4 26 years, the law in europe is any won spending more than £2500(cash) in a casino has to prove ID. plus we send information on him to N.C.I.S .. This every country in europe + U.S.A.. ($10000) for banks,casino,s ,buying car,s ..etc..

RedSnapper


Joined: 12/08/2008
Posts: 540

Message Posted:
10/12/2008 11:45

If he won it he should be allowed to keep it fair and square. However if i`d won it on holiday in trnc and wanted to take the cash home to uk i`d probably stand the chance of being had by the trnc, roc or uk customs on my return travels. It`s a test case really but he has the further obstacle of the north/south issue and discriminations. Very technical issue...

frontalman



Joined: 28/02/2008
Posts: 499

Message Posted:
10/12/2008 12:25

As usual Pikey and Suzanne are very hot on laws being applied when it suits their cause but cry like babies when it goes against them. I've recently looked backed on some of Pikey's (Eric Sean) posts and he seems to declare on separate threads that he is from Irish descent then Scottish descent, what is it or are you just making it all up as you go along?