Nigerian and Cypriot wife arrested in south Cyprus over ‘marriage’ fraud of 117,000 euros

A 35 year old Nigerian residing in south Cyprus and his 25 year old Cypriot wife has been arrested for alleged ly defrauding a 63 year old Paphos teacher who sent 117,000 euro to a man who told her he was a British doctor and whom she hoped to marry.

The arrest on Wednesday come a week after a 60 year old Cypriot man from Nicosia was arrested in connection with the incident.

The case dates back to July when the victim reported to police that a man she had met on social media and who said he was a doctor working with the UN in Syria had managed to convince her to deposit 117,000 for him under various pretexts.

The money was deposited in the account of the elderly mother of the 60 year old man which he managed. He is reported to have told police that he had acted at the instructions of the Nigerian, who gave him a cut.

The Nigerian appeared in court on Thursday following which he was remanded in custody while his wife was released as she does not appear to be involved in the case.

The teacher had said that she had met the ‘doctor’ on Facebook two years ago. Paphos police found the woman’s money deposited in three accounts — one belonging to a 60 year old man from Nicosia, the other to a woman from Nicosia and a third to a woman from Larnaca.

The teacher had told police she had deposited the money in three accounts at the instructions of the man she met on Facebook and who she said had threatened her when she started asking questions.

Also arrested and standing trial in a Paphos court is a British woman and Ukrainian woman for defrauding the 63 year old teacher of €117,000.

A fourth person, a 60 year old Cypriot who had initially been arrested in connection with the same case, will testify for the prosecution. 

Greek Cypriot police are also looking for a 39 year old Nigerian.

The three people to stand trial are holders of the bank accounts in which the money was found.