Higher court toughens penalty in minor abuse conviction

Cyprus's appellate tribunal has stiffened a jail term for dozens of counts of sexually exploiting a child, finding the first penalty insufficiently severe.

Higher court toughens penalty in minor abuse conviction

Cyprus's upper tribunal has boosted a custodial penalty from seven to ten years on every one of 48 counts tied to the sexual exploitation of a child, officials said Thursday.

The panel delivered its judgment on June 30, 2026, following an appeal by the chief prosecutor, who contended the original punishment failed to match the harshness of the acts.

Owing to the survivor's youth, the entire appellate process was held behind closed doors.

The judges left intact supplementary measures first ordered by the trial-level bench. Among them: the convict is barred from employment or presence in zones where minors congregate, and from residing in proximity to such spots. Monitoring will continue throughout his incarceration at the island's main penitentiary and for half a decade after he walks free.

The tribunal explained that the amplified sentence corresponds more faithfully to the brutal nature of the misconduct and advances the objective of discouraging similar crimes.

Source: Cyprus Mail

Source: Cyprus Mail