Newsroom
Cyprus' Supreme Court has firmly rejected the appeal of a man convicted of multiple serious sexual offenses against a minor, sending a clear message that the prison sentences imposed were not only tough but fully deserved.
The case dates back to a ruling by the Nicosia Criminal Court, which found the defendant, a barber by profession, guilty of a string of crimes, including child sexual abuse, child pornography, and related offenses. The trial court handed down concurrent prison sentences of 10 and 12 years, penalties the defendant later tried to overturn, claiming they were excessive.
The Appeals Court wasn’t convinced.
In its decision, the Supreme Court said the Criminal Court followed established legal principles and made no mistake in sentencing, stressing the exceptional gravity of the crimes. Judges underlined that such offenses demand severe punishment, not only to hold offenders accountable but also to send a broader warning that crimes against children will be met with zero tolerance.
The court also rejected any attempt by the convicted man to downplay his role, describing his involvement as central and leading, not peripheral as claimed in the appeal.
“The sentence imposed is strict but absolutely justified,” the ruling states.
The Supreme Court further reminded that sentencing decisions lie primarily with the trial court, and that an appeals court will only step in when a punishment is clearly excessive or clearly inadequate, a threshold the defendant failed to meet.
As a result, both grounds of appeal were dismissed, and the conviction, along with the prison sentences, remains fully in force.
