A Cypriot real estate agent who spent months in custody in Romania and Cyprus after a 2003 arrest warrant has lost his long-running civil claim for €170,000 in damages.
The man sued the Republic of Cyprus, arguing that authorities issued unjustified arrest warrants, caused unnecessary extradition delays and illegally detained him. He claimed lost earnings of €85,000 per year during the period he was held.
The case dates back to 2003 when Cyprus issued a national arrest warrant. Living and working in Romania at the time, he was arrested there in November 2005 and held pending extradition until April 2006. After being handed over to Cypriot authorities, he remained in detention until released on bail in March 2007. He was eventually acquitted in the criminal case in June 2007.
Both the District Court and, now, the Court of Appeals have ruled against him. The Court of Appeals unanimously rejected all five grounds of appeal and fully upheld the original decision.
Judges found no negligence or bad faith by Cypriot authorities. Every step — from the warrant and Interpol Red Notice to the extradition request — followed legal procedure and timelines. Any delay in Romania resulted solely from the agent’s own appeal against extradition.
The court also noted that acquittal in a criminal case does not automatically mean the earlier detention was unlawful. The agent’s witnesses were found contradictory and unreliable, while state evidence and documents were consistent and credible. No actual financial loss was proven.
The claim was dismissed in its entirety, and the agent must now pay additional appeal costs.
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