Nicosia, Cyprus. A permanent criminal court on Monday unanimously ruled that Giorgos Christodoulou, also known as Zavrantonas, will remain in custody pending the retrial of a case concerning the importation and possession of more than 15kg of cocaine with intent to supply.
Custody ruling
The court rejected a defence request for his release under conditions, saying there remained a serious risk of absconding and further criminal activity.
Christodoulou was originally sentenced in December 2022 to 22 years in prison, but the conviction was later overturned by the appeals court, which ordered the case to be retried from the beginning.
Nature of the case
The court said the case was exceptionally and materially different from an ordinary criminal matter, largely because six years had already passed since proceedings first began.
It noted that although Christodoulou has already served a substantial part of the sentence that was later quashed, the gravity of the charges weighed against his release.
The ruling described the case as involving organised criminal activity linked to a significant quantity of class A narcotics of high purity, which the court heard had been brought into Cyprus following coordinated actions and overseas contacts.
Evidence and delay
Particular weight was given to the prosecution’s evidence, including testimony from a co-defendant, which the court said pointed at first sight to Christodoulou’s involvement and described him as having played a dominant role.
The court acknowledged concerns over the lengthy delay and said the retrial would be prioritised under an intensified hearing schedule, including afternoon sessions if necessary, to ensure the case is concluded as quickly as possible.
However, it concluded that the likelihood of conviction, the seriousness of the alleged offences and the perceived risk of repeat offending made continued detention necessary.
Defence argument
During a hearing on Friday, the defence argued that Christodoulou’s six-year detention amounted to a violation of his right to a fair trial, noting that other individuals involved in the case had already been released.
