The Court of Appeal turned down the appeal of a man accused of serious sexual offenses. They agreed with the Famagusta District Court’s decision to keep him in detention due to flight risk.
The man is facing trial in the Famagusta Criminal Court for rape, sexual abuse, coercion into intercourse, abduction, indecent assault, sexual harassment, and deprivation of liberty for sexual abuse. These offenses allegedly happened on October 26, 2025, involving a Swedish woman as the victim.
Even though the defendant disagreed, the initial court decided to keep him detained, believing there was a significant risk he might escape. This decision was challenged in the appeal based on three main points.
The first point made by the appellant was that the court didn’t properly consider his personal ties to Cyprus. His defense argued these ties should have led to a different view on flight risk. He mentioned his ten-year stay on the island, a residence permit valid until 2026, his marriage to a European citizen, his four-year-old child in public school, and his steady job in tourism.
The second point was about not accepting suggested bail conditions. The defense proposed a €10,000 cash deposit, surrendering travel documents, and daily visits to the police station. They believed these steps would ensure he shows up for trial. They also noted that his detention would negatively affect his family since he is their main financial provider.
The third point questioned how serious the charges were, the chance of conviction, and possible penalties. The appellant felt the court should have seen that his personal ties were enough to guarantee his presence at trial.
The Court of Appeal reminded everyone that pre-trial detention is an unusual measure. They only step in if there’s a serious error in lower court decisions.
In this case, judges found that the lower court correctly applied legal rules when assessing flight risk. The seriousness of the offenses, potential long sentences, and evidence suggesting possible conviction were key factors.
Moreover, the Court of Appeal agreed that the defendant’s personal ties to Cyprus weren’t strong enough to remove flight risk. They stressed that such ties don’t automatically lead to release from detention. It was also decided that proposed bail conditions were not adequate given the severity of the case.
About family impacts, the court acknowledged them but stated they cannot outweigh public interest in ensuring the defendant’s presence at trial and fair justice administration.
The Court of Appeal concluded there was no legal or factual reason to change the initial ruling. All three reasons for appeal were completely rejected, and the decision to keep the defendant detained until trial was fully supported.
The case is set to be tried in front of the Famagusta Criminal Court in January 2026.
