Two members of a bizarre criminal group which made headlines earlier in the year after using forged state seals and impersonating officials are to appear in Nicosia criminal court next month, according to reports on Wednesday.

The Cyprus News Agency reported that the pair, the group’s 45-year-old alleged ringleader and a 62-year-old man who was among the first to be arrested in connection with the case in February, are to appear in court on July 11.

It added that they will be called upon to answer charges of participation in a criminal organisation, publication of false news which may undermine public order, impersonation of a public official, circulation of forged documents, and others including issuing threats and abuse of power.

The pair were among a number of people to have been arrested in connection with the case, with police sources having told the Cyprus Mail earlier in the year that around 10 members of the public had come forward and reported to the police interactions with the group.

These people were at the time of their dealings with the group suffering financial difficulties, including non-performing loans or having their homes repossessed, and the group had promised to help them.

Some of those who came forward said they had handed over money.

Speculation arose after media reports emerged last month that members of a “hierarchically” organised group of around 80 people were posing as military officials, postmen and legal functionaries, while submitting documents bearing falsified seals of the Republic of Cyprus, using United States military insignia, and pledging allegiance to the US flag.

The group presented itself on social media as the ‘Army of the Fourth Flag’ according to Phileleftheros, and reportedly “publicly rejects adherence to regulations of the Republic of Cyprus”.

The newspaper added that those involved have fostered “a culture of intimidation”.

The Cyprus Mail was also able to confirm that a proclamation or manifesto published in a local newspaper last year is almost certainly linked to the group in question.

The proclamation was published in June last year, and paid for by the ‘customers’ of the group – individuals whom the group had promised to help with their financial troubles.

In the proclamation, the signatories call themselves “living entities in the image and likeness of the one and unique creator, beneficiaries and trustees” of a list of Greek names.

They state that they have Cypriot nationality “in the nation of the Greeks of Cyprus, and not citizenship of the bankrupt private company called ‘The Republic of Cyprus Ltd’”.

The proclamation goes on to assert that this “company” is based in the US state of Delaware, while its signatories say they are not accountable to the authorities – be it the courts, the police, ministries, government departments, or public utilities.

“We hereby withdraw our trust in, and our representation by, the company known as ‘Parliament of the Republic of Cyprus’ and all associated corporate entities,” it added.

It also called on “the international military force known as Space Force, which is here on the island to crack down on corruption and graft, to act to shield us legally and constitutionally”.

Phileleftheros reported that in some cases members of this group would present themselves as ‘federal functionaries’ appointed by the ‘Planetary Postmaster’.

They explained their philosophy to distressed debtors and would use legal and military jargon to convince their ‘customers’ that they knew what they were doing.