Limassol, Cyprus. The court of appeal has dismissed an appeal by a man convicted of sexual offences against a minor, upholding prison sentences ranging from eight months to three years imposed by the Limassol criminal court.
Appeal ruling
In a July 9 ruling published on Tuesday, the court of appeal said the man had been convicted in October 2024 on seven counts of sexual abuse of a minor and eight counts of indecent assault against a minor.
The offences were committed in the Limassol district between 1996 and 2003.
Arguments rejected
The man challenged both his conviction and sentence, arguing that the complainant’s testimony was unreliable and untrue and that the police investigation had been inadequate.
The court of appeal found that the criminal court had sufficiently justified its decision. It said the lower court had determined that the man’s actions were “methodical and discreet” to avoid being noticed by other students.
Testimony and investigation
The appeal court said the complainant’s testimony had been properly accepted as reliable and had not been undermined by any other statement.
It also found that police had not failed to fully investigate the case.
The criminal court had identified inconsistencies between the man’s statement to police and his court testimony, as well as attempts to portray the complainant negatively and attribute ulterior motives to her.
