Appellate court rejects extradition of company director to Germany

On March 26, 2026, the Appeals Court unanimously rejected an appeal by the Attorney General, upholding a lower court decision to deny the execution of a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) issued by German authorities. The individual is accused of tax evasion totaling €1,796,689.12 and participating in a fraud scheme that cost the German state €12,736,196.74, with potential penalties of up to 15 years in prison. The EAW was issued on August 25, 2025, and the suspect was arrested on September 25, 2025. Although the Limassol District Court initially ordered the extradition on October 29, 2025, the suspect appealed, leading to a retrial. The Appeals Court cited significant and prolonged uncertainty regarding the legal representation of the suspect in Germany as the primary reason for refusing the extradition request. The Attorney General, acting as the Central Authority, had challenged the initial refusal to execute the warrant.