The criminal case involving the Ayia Napa mayor over an EU grant linked to a hotel business has been postponed again, marking the fifth delay in a row.
The hearing before the Famagusta Permanent Criminal Court did not begin this time either, as the court prioritized another 2024 case with a defendant currently in custody.
The next hearing date was set for 3 June 2026, pushing the substantive start of the trial to nearly two years after service of the indictment.
The defendants are the mayor and a company as a legal entity, facing counts including forgery, circulation of a forged document, obtaining money by false representations, and money-laundering-related offences.
The latest delay again highlights concerns about long judicial timelines in high-public-interest cases.
