A 37-year-old “socialite”, a 48-year-old notorious baron, and three prison guards, starring in another of the many scandals at Cyprus‘ Central Prison.

The baron Giorgos Zavranton is accused of giving orders and coordinating, from behind bars, a drug trafficking ring, illegal gambling and money laundering, in collaboration with a socialite from Nicosia, 37-year-old Natalie Giapoura, who has been featured in the society pages for years. In the “trick”, according to Cypriot police investigators, the 38-year-old’s brother and parents, also well-known Nicosia businessmen and equally socialites.

Valuable services, police said, were also provided by three prison guards, who were paid by the 37-year-old woman to provide facilities for the 48-year-old bailiff, who had a mobile phone with internet access to coordinate his business from his cell.

Semi-annual turnover €1,000,000

In the homes and family businesses of 37-year-old Giapura, police found a small treasure trove of banknotes: €53,870 at her home, €149,710 at her parents’ home, €83,160 at the family jewellery shop run by her brother and €22,357 to a friend allegedly collecting from drug sales and providing protection. A painting of great value was also found at the home of the 37-year-old’s parents, which it is alleged that the bailiff George Zavrantonas had given as a gift to the 37-year-old’s mother with whom he had been having an affair (unknown how) for the past few months.

The 37-year-old, who runs a beauty salon, claimed during her interrogation that the money came from her business. A total of €310,000 was seized and police testified in court that the ring managed to raise around €1,000,000 in six months.

The 48-year-old heavyweight, with a rich criminal past, communicated freely from his cell with everyone. The mobile phone seized was state-of-the-art, full of encrypted conversations. According to police, he was giving orders for drugs and laundering, making sure he was pulling strings as if he were in a hotel suite. It wasn’t his first cell phone and probably won’t be his last either, as there is no phone signal deactivation system in Cyprus’ prisons, and cell phones, like drugs, are widely circulated.

Bondsmen in the role of butlers

Three bondmen allegedly received money to transport devices and provide “facilities” to the convict. However, it raises questions about why they have not been arrested and suspended.

“Celebrities”

George Zavranton has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for trafficking 15 kilos of cocaine and his name is on files related to homicide, drugs and all kinds of criminal activity. Nevertheless, from inside the prison he was able to control a circuit with a huge scope of action and a large turnover.

Natalie Giapura, with a strong social media presence, is the scion of a powerful business family in the jewelry business. She chose to go into aesthetics although she studied psychology.