Famagusta, Cyprus. A 37-year-old man was sentenced to seven years in prison on Thursday by the Famagusta permanent criminal court after being found guilty of attempted rape, sexual abuse and coercion into acts of a sexual nature against a 33-year-old tourist in Ayia Napa in 2024.
Case details
According to the facts presented to the court, the victim and the defendant had travelled to Cyprus together from an EU country and were staying in the same hotel room as friends. The court heard that the woman made it clear she did not consent to any sexual contact.
Court findings
The court found that the defendant subjected the woman to acts of violence and sexual abuse and attempted to rape her. The attempt was unsuccessful after the woman resisted. Following the hearing, he was found guilty of one count of attempted rape, two counts of sexual abuse and one count of coercion into acts of a sexual nature.
Sentence
In its decision, the criminal court referred to the seriousness of sexual offences and the increasing incidence of similar crimes. It imposed a seven-year prison sentence on the sexual abuse convictions and four years’ imprisonment for the offences of attempted rape and coercion into acts of a sexual nature. The sentences will run concurrently, resulting in an effective prison term of seven years.
