New adjournment in former Paphos mayor rape trial
The case of suspended Paphos mayor Phaidos Phaidonos was adjourned until 24 June after a judge requested to withdraw from the three-member court citing grounds of impartiality.
New adjournment in former Paphos mayor rape trial
The criminal proceedings against suspended Paphos mayor Phaidos Phaidonos faced new obstacles, as judge Nikodimos Phakontis requested to withdraw from the three-member permanent court for serious offences. The next hearing was set for 24 June.
Phakontis cited three reasons. First, his deceased father had filed a lawsuit against the accused in relation to the Paphos Sewerage Board (SAPA) case, a matter later taken up by his widow as a lawyer and administrator of the estate. Second, both Phaidonos and relatives of the judge participate in the social association "Eussevia", where disagreements had arisen. Third, the judge's sister maintains close relations with the accused's family, a fact which, he argued, could create a mistaken impression regarding the neutrality of the trial.
Defence counsel Christos Pougouridis welcomed the judge's decision, but noted the need for the case to proceed without further delays. The team of lawyers, which also includes Epameinondas Korakidis, Maria Sokrátous and Elli Korakidou, expressed serious reservations about the repeated adjournments of proceedings before the substantive examination of the case had even begun.
The case faced complications from the start. It was initially filed at the District Court of Limassol in February, but new procedural regulations of 2024 require cases to be filed first at the court of the district where the alleged offences were committed. Accordingly, the Limassol proceedings were suspended and the case was resubmitted in Paphos, where Phaidonos was committed for trial on 21 April.
Pougouridis also warned of possible further delays from September, as the president of the court for serious offences, Lia Márkou, is, according to reports, at the top of the promotion list and may be transferred during the next judicial period.
The suspended mayor faces four serious charges: rape, indecent assault, supply of substances for the purpose of committing a serious offence or misdemeanour, and assault causing actual bodily harm. Phaidonos denies all charges. The trial is expected to be held in camera. The investigation was conducted by a specialist police team from headquarters, following a complaint made by a businessman on behalf of the alleged victim.
Source: Cyprus Mail
Source: Cyprus Mail