NICOSIA - A jealous Russian husband murdered a Lebanese man and dumped the body in a mountain culvert because he suspected him of having an affair with his wife, Cypriot police said Thursday.

The Russian, a naturalised Greek who lives in Cyprus, was arrested in connection with the murder of Elie Kmeid, who had been reported missing since October 1.

"The 40-year-old Lebanese man who was declared missing was found today murdered in the Mazokambos area of Limassol," a police statement said Thursday.

The suspect, whose name was not given, had been in custody along with his wife after he was caught using credit cards belonging to Kmeid and withdrawing 1,170 Cyprus pounds (2,450 dollars) in cash.

"Under questioning by officers, the 23-year-old seemed to have confessed that he abducted the Lebanese man who was at the suspects home," the statement said.

The police did not explain why the man suspected Kmeid, who had arrived in Cyprus the same day.

The suspect led police to where he dumped the body in a cement drainage pipe close to a mountain road.

He had bound and gagged Kmeid, bundled him into the boot of his car, drove to a deserted spot where he beat him then strangled him with a piece of cord, Limassol police chief Andreas Iatropoulos said.

The Russian is expected to appear before a court in the southern city of Limassol on Friday.

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