by annaka » Mon Jun 23, 2008 11:50 pm
It's a risk going to a betting shop where they have racing from the UK and I know of one incident where 23 men were arrested in February, summoned to appear in court, but the judge has postponed it on four occasions. Now that the hot weather is here they have set the next court appearance in Nicosia for November. It's quite a performance having to be at the court early in the morning and any absentees have the judge ordering the police to go to their houses to pick them up.
Each time they go, a lawyer appears for the whole 23 and has managed to get the postponements, but the hope is that by the time the judge feels in the mood to fine them, gambling will become legal and the government can claim taxes like they do in the UK.
Most of the 23 were pensioners, with a couple of people working full-time. They were just unlucky to be in the betting shop when the police swooped. I have to say it hasn't done anything to deter the gamblers and they still go.
Regards, Annaka