Newsroom
The Limassol Criminal Court has sentenced the former director of the Pattihio Municipal Theatre to 5.5 years in prison for theft by an employee and money laundering. The 65-year-old was found guilty on May 18 of misappropriating €234,550 between 2017 and 2020.
The stolen funds came from entertainment tax revenues, ticket sales, and payments for productions. The court acquitted the defendant on a separate charge of obtaining goods under false pretenses.
In its unanimous decision, the court described the offenses as “particularly serious,” citing the severity of the penalties set by law. It said the defendant had “systematically and deliberately” stolen a significant amount from the theatre, beginning in its first year of operation in 2017 and continuing over a three-year period.
The court considered several mitigating factors in determining the sentence, including the defendant’s clean criminal record, age, and personal, family, and financial circumstances. Also taken into account was the return of €10,700 related to three performances in 2018 and 2019.
The court imposed a 5.5-year sentence for each of the two charges, to be served concurrently. It also reduced the sentence by six months due to delays in the trial process.
The case came to light on Dec. 30, 2021, when then-board chairman and former Limassol mayor Nicos Nicolaides filed a police report following an audit by an independent accounting firm. The audit revealed a €234,550 shortfall.
Concerns had first been raised in April 2021 by the theatre’s technical director. When asked to explain, the defendant admitted to withholding €10,700, citing financial hardship and personal problems.
