The case against suspended Phedonas Phedonos is expected to be filed before the courts in the coming days, following instructions by the Legal Service of the Republic of Cyprus to proceed with a criminal prosecution over an alleged rape.
According to information, the decision follows the completion of the investigative process, with authorities concluding that sufficient evidence has been secured to bring the case to trial. The suspended mayor is reportedly facing charges of rape and indecent assault in connection with an incident alleged to have taken place in 2014.
Next procedural steps
The case file has now been returned to the Cyprus Police for the preparation of the charge sheet. A final decision will then be taken on whether the case will initially be filed before the Paphos District Court or referred directly to the Assize Court. Given the nature of the alleged offences, proceedings are expected to begin at the District Court before being referred to the Assize Court at a later stage. Following the referral, the court will decide whether the suspended mayor will be remanded in custody or released under conditions.
Detention considered unlikely
Based on the available information, detention is considered less likely, as there appears to be no immediate risk of flight, interference with witnesses or reoffending, particularly given the time that has elapsed since the alleged incident. It is also noted that the suspended mayor has no prior convictions indicating a pattern of criminal behaviour.
In cases where defendants are not held in custody, priority is typically given to cases involving detained suspects, meaning that proceedings may take a considerable amount of time to conclude.
Case timeline
The case file was initially submitted to the Legal Service on 26 February. After review, it was returned to the police with instructions for further investigative work. The file was subsequently resubmitted to police headquarters and then returned to the Legal Service for final evaluation. A state prosecutor reviewed the evidence and instructed police to proceed with the preparation of formal charges.
The case concerns complaints filed by a businessman and the alleged victim. It is noted that the guilt or innocence of any individual will be determined by the court and not by the decision to refer the case for trial.