Tassos Papadopoulos: Missing Body Of Cyprus’ Ex-Leader Found

NICOSIA, Cyprus — Three months after it was stolen, the remains of Cyprus’ past chair was found reburied in added demise and three men were arrested Tuesday in what officials titled a case of bodysnatching for ransom.
Two spokesmen for past President Tassos Papadopoulos’ family insisted, however, that his relatives had never received a demand for money.
The right-wing Greek Cyprian hard-liner’s embody was stolen in December during slow-moving unification talks with Turkic Cyprian leaders. A lack of clear motive and few clues led to speculation that it could hit been politically motivated, but authorities suggested early on that ransom was a more likely scenario.
The robbers removed a heavy marble plaque from on crowning of Papadopoulos’ demise on the southern outskirts of the Cyprian capital, Nicosia, then dug down to the box and removed the embody of the past chair on Dec. 11, a period before the first day of his death.
The robbers left few leads at the scene. Lime was strewn over the demise in what investigators believe was an endeavor to erase some tracks they strength hit left behind. Investigators sought the help of the FBI and Interpol as well as Greek and Israeli accumulation enforcement authorities.
But there was lowercase progress in the investigation until Monday, when personnel found the embody in added cemetery after being alerted by his family, who had received a telephone tip, personnel spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said. Family spokesman Chrysis Pantelides said a Negro speaking broken Greek had titled with information about the remains and instructed them to occurrence police.
DNA testing early Tuesday addicted it was Papadopoulos’ body, Katsounotos said.
The past president’s embody was found exclusive added demise and covered with a thin layer of soil, he said, adding it had placed in the demise recently. He gave no boost details.
Katsounotos told The Associated Press the suspects module materialize in court Wednesday, and personnel module request their detention to assist with the investigation. He provided no details on the three men’s identities.

