Phedonas Phedonos, the suspended Mayor of Paphos, entered pleas of not guilty to all five charges against him before the Paphos Permanent Felony Court on Wednesday. The court is expected to hear arguments shortly on a prosecution application for the trial to be held behind closed doors.
The case has been scheduled for hearing over five consecutive days, from 27 to 31 July, beginning at 9:00 a.m.
The charges
According to the indictment, Phedonos faces five counts: rape, indecent assault against a woman, indecent assault against a woman by another act, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and administering a drug or substance capable of stupefying or overpowering a person.
Closed proceedings request
Prosecution representative Irini Savva submitted a three-page written submission requesting that all or part of the proceedings be held in camera, citing the need to protect the identity of the complainant. She invoked relevant legislation on the protection of victims and women in cases of this nature, as well as provisions of the Witness Protection Law.
Court's position on public hearings
Presiding Judge Lia Markou clarified that the right to a public hearing is constitutionally guaranteed, but noted that this right is not absolute. She said the court's duty is to balance the rights of both parties with a view to ensuring a fair trial. She further noted that, at the current stage, the complainant's identity is not disclosed provided her name is not stated and reference is made only to the offences under examination. She directed that where the complainant's name appears in the indictment, it should be referenced without identification.
The court will hear submissions from both sides on the question of open versus closed proceedings before issuing a ruling.
