Newsroom
Cyprus’ Supreme Court has ruled police went too far in a sensitive case involving a minor, granting permission to challenge a search warrant that officers used to raid the home of the child’s grandfather.
The case began after a school principal reported that a student had been sharing sexually explicit videos involving classmates. Police quickly stepped in, seizing the phones of the students involved and taking statements from other pupils, as well as the child’s parents and grandparents.
Although investigators already had the key videos and the minor’s phone, they sought additional electronic devices from the grandfather’s home. But the Supreme Court found the warrant was poorly justified; it failed to show how other devices were tied to the alleged offenses. The judges also stressed that the document did not authorize the arrest of the minor, a move police attempted to pursue.
Lawyers for the boy argued the warrant was based on a flimsy testimony and lacked proper documentation, an argument the Supreme Court upheld. At the same time, the court dismissed six other claims raised by the defense.
The investigation remains ongoing, but the ruling has sparked questions about police procedure and how far authorities should be allowed to go when handling cases involving children and digital evidence.
