A court in Limassol has remanded a 43-year-old Syrian man in custody for six days. Cypriot police are investigating him over the abduction of a 61-year-old Bulgarian woman with intent to commit a serious crime, premeditated murder. The woman lives in Limassol and is missing.

An investigating officer from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) in Limassol told the court that the evidence gathered suggests she is probably dead. Her death has not been confirmed, and the search continues.

The hearing took place today, 31 October. Premeditated murder was dropped from the list of offences under investigation, leaving abduction. Police asked for the man to be held, the defence did not object and the court granted the request. The investigator's written statement was not read out in court.

The two had a romantic relationship. The man denies any part in her disappearance, and his guilt has not been established.

Police give 23 October as the date she went missing. She has not spoken to anyone since 21 October, her phone is switched off, and her car was last recorded parked that same day. She also missed a meeting arranged in advance.

A friend of the woman went to police on 28 October, and her photos appeared in the media that evening. Police checks do not show that she left Cyprus or went to the Turkish-occupied areas. Investigators have found her car.

The officer told the court that the woman's dog was found neglected at her home. He said she is not known to leave the animal without care.

A witness, a local resident living near the suspect's home, saw two people walking towards the house and then heard a shout. He also saw the missing woman's car. The investigator said this happened on or before 21 October, and the witness could not give the exact time.

Police also have footage from a security camera. It shows a car reversing into the property and parking, then the boot opening and what appears to be an unidentified object being put in it. Police have not established that the footage shows a body, and they are checking the circumstances of what was filmed.

The defence asked why investigators think the footage may show a body being put in the car. "Where else could it go?" the investigator replied.

The suspect's lawyer, Rikos Erotokritou, also questioned the officer about other evidence. There is testimony that the Syrian met another person at the home, and information that he travelled to the property with that person. Erotokritou said no testimony or evidence links the meeting and the trip to the crime under investigation.

A witness says the suspect bought plane tickets in the early hours of 29 October, when the disappearance had already become public. On 30 October the man was found at Larnaca airport, taken to a police station and arrested there. According to the investigation, this happened before he left the island, after investigators found contradictions in his explanations.

Police are also looking into a financial motive. According to the investigation, the detained man admitted trying to defraud the woman of between €15,000 and €20,000 with a fake piece of jewellery and a forged certificate. Financial and bank checks are under way, the investigator said.