Paphos, Cyprus. The trial of suspended Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos continued before the Permanent Criminal Court in Paphos, with the prosecution calling witnesses in support of its case. The proceedings are being held behind closed doors under a court order.
Charges and plea
Phedonos faces five charges: rape, indecent assault against a woman, indecent assault by another act, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and administering a drug or other substance capable of stupefying or overpowering a person.
He has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Prosecution evidence
Senior Counsel of the Republic Mikaella Pasiardi represents the prosecution before the Permanent Criminal Court. Before the indictment was filed, the case was handled by the Paphos office of the Legal Service under state prosecutor Eirini Savva.
After presenting documentary evidence, the prosecution began calling witnesses, starting with members of the investigative team. Witness testimony is expected to continue on Tuesday.
Hearing schedule
The hearing is scheduled over five consecutive sitting days, from July 27 to July 31. Further hearing dates, likely in September, are expected to be set on Friday.
Closed proceedings
Defence lawyers Christos Pourgourides and Epameinondas Korakides requested that the proceedings be held in public. The presiding judge ordered that the trial be conducted behind closed doors.
In its ruling, the court said the nature of the alleged offences and material in the case file created a clear risk of violating the complainant’s privacy and affecting her testimony through fear, anxiety and possible social stigma.
The court found that excluding the public would not compromise the defendant’s right to a fair trial. It also rejected the defence proposal to hold only the complainant’s testimony in private, ruling that sensitive personal information could arise during the evidence of other witnesses.