**Court to Decide on Closed-Door Hearing for Paphos Mayor Phedonos' Trial**
The Paphos criminal court is set to make a significant decision on Thursday regarding the trial of suspended Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos, who faces serious allegations including rape and domestic abuse. The court will determine whether the proceedings will be held behind closed doors, a move that has been requested by the prosecution in order to protect the complainant.
Phedonos, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges, is facing five counts of rape, indecent assault, actual bodily harm, and administering a substance capable of intoxicating another person. The charges were formally brought against him last month, prompting a high-profile legal battle.
Prosecution lawyer Irini Savva has argued that a closed-door trial is necessary for the protection of the complainant, citing legal provisions that allow for such measures in cases involving sensitive allegations. In response to the prosecution's request, the court has indicated that the discussion surrounding whether the trial should be closed will also take place behind closed doors. This decision is based on the potential need to reference sensitive elements of the case that require confidentiality.
Initially, Phedonos’ lawyer, Christos Pourgourides, considered filing an objection to the request for a closed hearing. However, it is now understood that he is not expected to proceed with this objection.
Following Thursday's hearing, the court has scheduled the next five hearings to occur on consecutive days from July 27 to July 31, indicating a swift progression of the trial.
The allegations against Phedonos have garnered significant public attention, particularly following claims made by social media personality Ioanna Photiou, known as Annie Alexui. Photiou has alleged that she possesses documents related to Phedonos' wife, Louiza Andreou, which reportedly indicate that she was admitted to the Nicosia general hospital in 2017 due to injuries sustained from physical abuse by her husband. In response, Andreou has publicly denied the allegations, asserting that her family is facing a "coordinated attack." She emphasized her long-standing relationship with Phedonos, describing him as a "wonderful man" and expressing pride in him amidst the ongoing legal challenges.
The rape allegations first emerged in February when Theodoros Aristodemou, a land developer based in Paphos, accused Phedonos of committing the crime approximately a decade ago. Aristodemou has a contentious history with Phedonos and the Paphos municipality, having faced legal issues himself in the past regarding fraudulent land demarcation. Although he was previously cleared of those charges in 2015, the resurfacing of these allegations has reignited scrutiny on both parties.
In light of the serious nature of the accusations, Phedonos was suspended from his mayoral duties by Interior Minister Constantinos Ioannou shortly after the allegations were made public. While suspended, Phedonos has been receiving one-third of his mayoral salary, a situation that will continue until the legal proceedings are resolved. If he is acquitted and returns to office, he will be entitled to recover the full amount of his salary lost during the suspension. In the interim, Angelos Onisiforou has been appointed as the acting mayor of Paphos.
As the court prepares to deliberate on the request for a closed hearing, the outcome will have implications not only for the trial itself but also for the public's access to information regarding the proceedings. The decision will be closely watched by both the local community and the media, given the high-profile nature of the case and the serious allegations involved.