The mayors of Paphos and Lefkoniko are to be placed on suspension due to a criminal investigation being conducted against them by the Police into a number of alleged offences.
According to information from the Ministry of the Interior, the Chief of Police replied today to a letter from the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary regarding the offences under investigation involving Phedonas Phedonos, Mayor of Paphos, and Pieris Gypsiotis, Mayor of Lefkoniko.
Initial information indicates that the Chief of Police, through his written response, outlined the nature of the offences under investigation. This development triggers the application of Article 113 of the Municipalities Law, under which both mayors are automatically placed on suspension until the completion of the investigations and the adjudication of the cases.
Under the Municipalities Law of 2022, which entered into force on 1 July 2024, a mayor is placed on suspension, among other circumstances, when a police investigation is initiated into an offence carrying a potential prison sentence of three years or more.
The Minister of the Interior is currently abroad. Upon his return later this evening, he is expected to approve the relevant notification for publication in the Official Gazette of the Republic, which will be issued in an extraordinary edition tomorrow. Under the law, the suspension takes effect only upon publication of the notification in the Official Gazette.
The letters
The Ministry of Interior has received two separate letters concerning the mayors of Paphos and Lefkoniko, according to statements to the Cyprus News Agency by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Elikkos Ilias.
Mr Ilias said the contents of the letters will be made public upon the return of the Interior Minister.
Current status of the investigation
The Permanent Secretary did not clarify whether the police letter concerning the Paphos mayor relates to the ex officio criminal investigation already under way or to a new complaint that has recently emerged in the public domain.
On Tuesday the alleged victim in the case of Mayor of Paphos gave a statement to the authorities in complaints linked to businessman Aristodimou. The deposition reportedly lasted more than five hours and concerns an offence that is alleged to have been committed approximately ten years ago.
He said further details would be communicated once the minister has reviewed the correspondence.
What the law provides
Referring to the procedural framework, Mr Ilias explained that when a mayor is placed on suspension, their duties are assumed by the deputy mayor.
In the event of a conviction of a serving mayor, municipal elections are called, while responsibility for the municipality remains with the deputy mayor until the election process is completed.
The Interior Ministry has confirmed that the mayors of Paphos and Lefkoniko are placed on automatic suspension under the Municipalities Law, following the activation of the relevant legal provisions.