Phedonos rape trial begins today in Paphos Criminal Court

Local CrimePaphosTop News Phedonos rape trial begins today in Paphos Criminal Court Phedonos Rape Trial Begins Today In Paphos Criminal Court Relevant News Phedonos rape trial begins today in Paphos Criminal Court 27 July 2026 Two explosions reported in overnight Limassol attacks 27 July 2026 How the President will approach talks with the UN chief and Turkish Cypriot leader 27 July 2026 Dora Christodoulou 27 July 2026 FacebookXWhatsAppEmailPrintViber The trial of suspended Paphos Mayor Phedon Phedonos opens today on the merits before the Paphos Criminal Court, following three procedural hearings, over a rape allegation reported by a woman. At the previous hearing on the 16th of this month, the court announced its decision to hold the trial behind closed doors in order to protect the complainant. Phedonos denied all five charges brought against him over the alleged rape, and the Criminal Court has set today as the day the trial begins, continuing daily until July 31. The five charges against Phedonos, to which he pleaded not guilty, concern rape, indecent assault (two counts), administering a substance with intent to stupefy for the purpose of committing a felony or misdemeanour, and assault causing actual bodily harm. The Criminal Court has been sitting under its new composition since the previous hearing, after judge Nicodemos Fakontis recused himself at the May 28 sitting due to family involvement in cases concerning the accused. District Judge Maria Sokratous was appointed as the new member of the Criminal Court. The court now hearing the Phedonos case is composed of Lia Markou, President of the District Court, Theodoros Symeonidis, District Judge, and Maria Sokratous, District Judge. Case background Phedonos was suspended from the mayoralty of Paphos in February 2026 after Paphos land developer Theodoros Aristodemou publicly accused him of raping a woman around ten years earlier and gave a statement to police. The alleged incident is said to have taken place in 2014. Following an investigation by a specially constituted team that took more than 20 statements — including from individuals who held public office at the time — Phedonos was indicted on four charges: rape, indecent assault, administering a substance to stupefy with intent to commit a felony or misdemeanour, and assault causing actual bodily harm. The suspended mayor faced a separate investigation into an allegation of assault against his wife, which was launched ex officio following social media posts by social media personality ‘Annie Alexoui’. His wife had requested that the investigation into the alleged violence be discontinued. Subscribe to our Newsletter Latest News Two explosions reported in overnight Limassol attacks How the President will approach talks with the UN chief and Turkish Cypriot leader Living with OCD, locked in a battle no one sees Temperatures rise again as strong winds forecast Suspect in Berlin Pride attack shot dead by police Wildfires threaten Bordeaux as France, Spain battle blazes No evidence of sexual abuse found after inmate’s report Follow en.philenews on Google News and be the first to know all the news about Cyprus and the world.