NICOSIA, Cyprus: Divers have dragged a suitcase containing decomposing human remains from a toxic lake, a Cyprus police spokesman said Tuesday, the third such discovery in the east Mediterranean island nation’s serial killer case.
Andreas Angelides said the discovery is a “major development” in the unfolding investigation of a Cypriot army captain who has confessed to the killing of seven foreign women and girls.
Angelides said coroners examined the latest discovery at the scene while more specialized tests will be carried out to determine the person’s identity.
“We proceeded with our search keeping two key factors in mind, the degree of difficulty and the level of danger involved,” said Angelides.
This is the third suitcase containing a body retrieved from the lake following a six-week search.
The 35 year-old suspect had told investigators that he disposed of the bodies of a Filipino woman and a Romanian mother and daughter in the lake after placing their bodies in suitcases.
The body in the latest find is believed to belong to Maricar Valtez Arquiola, 31, from the Philippines.
The case came to light on April 14 when the bound body of 38-year-old Mary Rose Tiburcio, also from the Philippines, was discovered by chance down a flooded shaft near the toxic lake that was part of what is now a disused copper mine .
The ensuing homicide investigation led to the captain’s arrest following an assessment of his online communication with the victim. A second woman’s body — thought to be that of 28-year-old Arian Palanas Lozano, also from the Philippines — was found in the mineshaft a few days later.
Investigators said the suspect, who hasn’t been named yet, confessed to the killings in a 10-page, handwritten note. He led them to where he disposed of the bodies, including a dry well in a military firing range where the remains of who is thought to be Ashita Khadka Bista, from Nepal, were found.
The case put the spotlight on police failings in investigating missing persons’ cases and led to the resignation of the justice minister and the firing of the police chief.
Officials said some later killings may have been prevented had “negligent” officers properly investigated the first missing person’s reports.
Police continue to search for the body of Tiburcio’s six year-old daughter in another lake where the suspect said he disposed of it.
Cyprus police find third suitcase with body inside in lake
Cyprus police find third suitcase with body inside in lake
- Police say Cypriot army captain has confessed to the killing of seven foreign women and girls
- The body in the latest find is believed to belong to Maricar Valtez Arquiola from the Philippines
Kyrgyzstan parliament speaker resigns after spy chief sacking
- Japarov is seeking re-election next year in a country that was once a regional leader in terms of openness
BISHKEK: Kyrgyzstan’s parliament speaker said Thursday he would step down, two days after President Sadyr Japarov dismissed the Central Asian country’s powerful secret service chief and arrested political figures who called for early elections.
In a surprise move, Japarov had sacked his one-time close ally — spy chief Kamchybek Tashiev — in a decision Bishkek said was meant to “prevent division in society.”
Japarov is seeking re-election next year in a country that was once a regional leader in terms of openness, though marked by political volatility.
Rights groups have accused him of authoritarian tendencies, as he seeks to assert his control and cast himself as a bringer of stability.
Speaker Nurlanbek Turgunbek uulu — close to the sacked security boss — told MPs he would step down, insisting that he was not resigning under pressure.
“Reforms initiated by the president must be carried out. Political stability is indispensable,” he said.
Kyrgyzstan has in recent years been de-facto governed by the Japarov-Tashiev tandem.
Both came to power in the wake of the 2020 revolution — the third since Bishkek gained independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Several NGOs have in recent months denounced the deterioration of freedom of expression in Kyrgyzstan.
Japarov had unexpectedly sacked Tashiev and three of his deputies on Tuesday, also weakening the powers of the secret services.
Japarov rarely speaks publicly. His spokesman had said the decision was taken “in the interests of the state, with the aim of preventing divisions within society, including between government structures, and to strengthen unity.”
Tashiev was in Germany for health treatment when the sacking was announced and had said it was a “total surprise” to him.
The decision came the day after the publication of an open letter from 75 political figures and ex-officials calling to bring forward presidential elections — scheduled for January 2027.
Five of those who signed the letter — which criticized the economic situation in the country — were arrested Wednesday on charges of organizing mass riots.
