Cyprus

1. Under what circumstances can a stolen vehicle be seized in your country?

• Stolen vehicles may be seized on the strength of a judicial warrant of search issued by a competent court on application by the police. After seizure it is up on the Court to decide for its disposal.

1. What channels are used to notify the owner of the vehicle’s location (Interpol or other)?

• Interpol.

1. Who is responsible for the storage of seized vehicles?

• Such vehicles are kept by the police or customs authorities.

1. Are there any costs associated with storage of a seized stolen vehicle and who is responsible for these costs?

• Yes there are costs. The Customs Authorities are responsible, after the decision of the court.

1. How does a stolen vehicle get restored to its legal owner?
   a) Do the police have authority to restore the vehicle?

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b) Is it the local court who authorises release of the vehicle?

• Yes it is the local Court who authorizes the release of the vehicle.

c) Is it necessary to have a “commission rogatoire” to recover the vehicle?

• Yes

d) What documentation does the owner have to provide in order to recover the vehicle?

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6. Are there any time limits associated with recovery of the vehicle? (i.e. after a certain period of time the vehicle becomes the property of the state or police, etc.)?

• No

6. Please give details of relevant legislation

• Copies of Sections 27, 32, 32A and 170 of the Criminal Procedure Law Cap. 155, are attached.

6. If the law in your country precludes the restitution of a stolen vehicle to its original owner, please give the reasons why

• There is no law in our country which precludes the restitution of a stolen vehicle to its original owner. Though, if the stolen vehicle is acquired in good faith by a third party then this person has the right to sue the accused seeking restitution since the stolen vehicle is going to be returned to its rightful owner.

6. Does your country have any bilateral treaties, conventions, or agreements with other countries dealing with the recovery of stolen property? If so, please describe how they operate and give details of the countries concerned

• Cyprus has conclued both bilateral treaties on Judicial/Legal co-operation and agreements for co-operation in security matters with several countries, wich include the co-operation for the recovery of stolen property.
  List of these treaties and agreements are attached hereto.
  Under the first category, co-operation is effected with the exchange of rogatory letters. Under the second category of agreements, co-operation consists of the exchange of intelligence.
  Furthermore, Cyprus is a party to multilateral convections for co-operation in the criminal field, such as the European Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal matters of 1959.

6. Reference point, for assistance in case of difficulties
   Surname: Krokos

Name: Andreas

Department: Department C´

Tel nr: 00357 22 808019

Fax nr: 00357 22 808600

e-mail : akrokos@police.gov.cy

address: Police Headquarters 1478 Nicosia Cyprus.

Last update: April 2008