Cops snatch pardoned sex offender

A convicted sex offender, whose release by presidential pardon in early September sparked social debate, was once again detained after police went to search for explosives and discovered camera violations in his residence.

(Click here for an update to the story)

Police told Knews they obtained a search warrant after receiving a tip that the released sex offender had illegal explosives in his residence. However, cops did not find any explosives but discovered that security cameras were installed illegally, possibly recording public spaces beyond his property.

While it is legal in other countries to record in public spaces, police told Knews that private citizens in the Republic of Cyprus need special permission to install cameras that record beyond the premises of their private property.

The man was arrested on privacy law violations while police investigators are sifting through the footage to properly evaluate its content. He was later released, according to media reports.

The man, who was convicted of sex crimes against a minor, was serving his sentence when President Nicos Anastasiades signed off on a general pardon for a number of jailed convicts earlier this year.

But this week, the family of his female victim who is now an adult, protested against the release when they saw him walking around in their community, criticising authorities for failing to inform them ahead of time.

The issue was taken on by social media and critics of the president, who later picked up the phone and personally called the family to apologise.

Anastasiades said “this was a mistake” according to local reports, telling the family that the pardon came right after his re-election and it was generic, adding that he would stand in support of their daughter.

The Legal Services Department also weighed in on Wednesday, saying the convicted sex offender got a reduced sentence following a customary pardon decree by the president who was re-elected in March 2018, essentially cutting sentencing time for most convicts by one quarter.

Other convicts who benefited from this pardon included other pedophiles with victims above the age of 13, killers who have been convicted for manslaughter, drug dealers, and rapists.

People on social media said they would organise a protest outside the Presidential Palace on Friday at 6pm.