Newsroom
A 30-year-old man was sentenced Monday to six years in prison by the Permanent Criminal Court of Paphos in connection with an arson attack that destroyed a family home in February, police said.
According to a statement from the Police Headquarters Communication Branch, the fire occurred around 3 a.m. on Feb. 11. Investigators said the blaze began on the veranda of the residence before spreading inside, causing extensive damage.
A family of six was inside the home at the time, a 42-year-old man, his 40-year-old wife, their two children, aged 8 and 12, and the man's parents, aged 73 and 72. All six escaped.
The family was treated at Paphos General Hospital. The mother suffered second-degree burns to her hands and first-degree burns to her face. The father and 12-year-old child were treated for respiratory issues. The 73-year-old grandfather sustained injuries to his spine and right leg while fleeing the fire.
Following an investigation by the Paphos Criminal Investigation Department, evidence linked the suspect to the arson, authorities said. He was arrested on Feb. 18 at the Ledra Palace checkpoint in Nicosia while attempting to cross from the government-controlled areas into the island’s occupied north.
The case was prosecuted by state attorneys, and the court found the man guilty based on the evidence presented.
