MY wife and I sold our house in England in April 2005. We purchased a house in Liopetri on the east side of the island. We both enjoyed our life there for nearly four years.
The pull of our family back in England grew stronger with the birth of our second great grandchild. We decided after many weeks of ‘will we or won’t we’, to move back to England.
We placed the house sale in the hands of an estate agent. Because of the situation with the recession we knew it would take some time to sell.
Finally it sold last year in May 2011. That’s when all my problems started. There was no contact from anyone in Cyprus unless I contacted them first. No one in the office did, nor would tell me about my funds. I knew the lawyers in Paralimni had my funds in their account by early August.
After more excuses and lies I found myself emailing their office three or four times daily. I became so worried about my funds that I contacted and employed another lawyer to find and collect the money.
A few days after the investigation started I received an email from the lawyer who I believe was keeping my funds illegally. He said I would receive my funds in three separate instalments. They did pay – two payments before, and the third after Christmas.
Then another email came saying he would pay me the interest lost on my funds due to the delay in transferring the money. The invoice for retrieving my funds came to €3,500, money well spent even though I could ill afford it.
What happened to my funds before they reached me is criminal. I just want this to end so we both can get back to our normal lives. I am only asking for the money I was forced to spend to retrieve my funds and the bank interest that was promised. One of the worst things was that the purchaser of my property lived in my house for months before I had my funds.
I have spoken to the Cyprus Bar Association disciplinary Board of Advocates and have said they will take on my case at my say so. All I want is an apology and the money lost.
Martin Brough, UK
