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Cyprus drops gambling charges against elderly women

Around 40 women, one of whom is 98, were facing illegal gambling charges over their weekly poker sessions.

Image: YLegrand via Creative Commons

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL of Cyprus has dropped gambling charges against about 40 elderly women, including a 98-year-old, whose weekly poker-and-bridge party had been raided by police.

The women, mostly in their 70s, had became a local cause célèbre after receiving a court summons this week. Interviews with 98-year-old Eftychia Yiasemidou appeared in several media outlets.

An assistant for Attorney General Petros Clerides said today that the official had been unaware of the case and only found out about it through media reports.

Gambling in Cyprus is punishable by up to six months in jail or a €750 fine. The ladies were playing at home with small amounts of cash during their weekly afternoon get-together in November 2009 when police raided the house.

Read: 98-year-old women facing gambling charges in Cyprus >

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