Strovolos, Cyprus. A 28-year-old man sentenced to three years in prison for stealing €20, which he later returned, is being released after serving 11 months. The appeals court on Monday overturned the court of first instance ruling, citing the circumstances of the offences and the man’s personal situation.
Appeals court overturns sentence
The man had been stopped by police in July 2025 for inspection following a series of attempted kiosk robberies by a man carrying a knife in Strovolos.
In October 2024, he attempted to rob two kiosks and managed to leave the second scene with €20.
When questioned, he admitted committing the crimes and returned the stolen money.
Arguments before the court
The man, who had no previous criminal record, had received concurrent prison sentences, with the longest set at three years.
He later changed defence lawyer, and Maria Athanasiou appealed the sentence.
Athanasiou told the appeals court that the prison term was unfair and harsh and that neither the man’s personal circumstances nor his difficulties with reintegration had been taken into account.
Prosecution response
The prosecution defended the first instance ruling, arguing that the case did not concern a single isolated incident but four separate ones in which the man, carrying a knife, entered kiosks and bakeries demanding money.
The prosecution also said the man’s personal circumstances had been considered, including that he was a drug addict and had a family.