Cypriot authorities have prosecuted several individuals, including Israeli businessman Shimon Aykout, for illegal property development in the breakaway north. Aykout pleaded guilty to 40 charges related to building and selling Greek Cypriot properties, highlighting ongoing tensions over property rights stemming from the 1974 division of Cyprus. The case underscores the contentious nature of property ownership and enforcement in the region, with recent sentences serving as a warning to illegal developers.