The Ministry of the Interior is awaiting a response from the Legal Service regarding a new case involving a mayor against whom there appears to be a complaint of domestic violence. In relation to the Mayor of Paphos, the Ministry is awaiting a response from the Police before deciding on its next steps.
Speaking today to the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) and referring to the first case, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of the Interior, Elikkos Elias, said the Ministry had been informed by the Legal Service yesterday that there are criminal cases pending against the mayor in question for violations of the Criminal Code relating to domestic violence.
Paphos case
He added that “there also appears to be a new complaint within the same context” and that, for this reason, “we sent a letter yesterday afternoon to the Legal Service requesting guidance to help the Ministry determine whether the Minister of the Interior should place the mayor in question on suspension, in accordance with the Municipalities Law”.
Asked about the case of the Mayor of Paphos, Phaedon Phaedonos, Elias explained that a letter was sent to the Police on 26 January because the Police themselves had announced that they had launched an ex officio investigation into the matter.
He added that the case is not before the Legal Service and that, for this reason, the letter was sent to the Chief of Police rather than to the Legal Service. “I am awaiting the Police’s response so that we can then approach the Legal Service to advise us, in this case as well, on exactly what action should be taken and whether the mayor should be placed on suspension,” he said.
Prison sentence up to 3 years
In response to a request for clarification, Elias said that the difference between the two cases is that, in the case of the Mayor of Paphos, the process was initiated by the Police, whereas in the new mayoral case the process was initiated by the Legal Service.
In any event, he noted, if the Police respond that there is an issue concerning the Mayor of Paphos, the Ministry of the Interior will refer the matter to the Legal Service, as the Government’s legal adviser, to make a final decision on whether Phaedonos should be placed on suspension. If, on the other hand, the Police determine that there is no issue, the Ministry will not seek advice from the Legal Service and will not place Mr Phaedonos on suspension, he stressed.
Elias explained that Article 113 of the 2022 Municipalities Law, which came into force on 1 July 2024, sets out the circumstances under which a mayor, deputy mayor or municipal councillor may be placed on suspension. One such circumstance, he said, is when an investigation is initiated by the prosecuting authorities into an offence carrying a potential prison sentence of three years or more.