Suspended Paphos mayor appears in court over 2014 rape case

On Tuesday, the suspended mayor of Paphos, Phedonas Phedonos, appeared before the Paphos District Court regarding an alleged rape case dating back to 2014. The proceedings aim to refer the case to the Permanent Assize Court. The charges against him include four counts: rape, indecent assault, administering narcotics to commit a crime, and assault causing actual bodily harm. Previously, the case was filed in Limassol but was stayed and re-filed in Paphos, where the alleged offense took place. The Legal Service is currently considering whether to request a transfer of the trial to a court in a different district, which would require Supreme Court approval. Phedonos has denied all allegations, claiming they are a fabrication aimed at his political destruction. The court is expected to impose restrictive conditions and bail, with prosecutors requesting the proceedings take place behind closed doors.