A 53-year-old hotel manager has been found guilty of sexually abusing two underage girls from the United Kingdom during their holiday in Cyprus in July 2023.
The Permanent Criminal Court in Paphos delivered its verdict on Tuesday, 3 November, following the conclusion of the trial. Proceedings were held behind closed doors because of the nature of the case and to protect the two victims.
The abuse was reported in July 2023
The two girls were both 16 at the time of the offences. They had travelled to Cyprus for a holiday accompanied by the parents of one of them.
During their stay at a hotel in the wider Paphos area, they were sexually abused by the manager, who was then 50 years old.
The case came to the attention of police in July 2023, after the girls told their parents what had happened.
On 7 July 2023, the two teenagers had filed a complaint with Paphos Police, accusing a 50-year-old man of sexual abuse.
Following the complaint, investigators arrested the suspect and placed him in custody.
As part of the investigation, police took video-recorded statements from the two girls, while arrangements were also made for them to be examined by a forensic doctor.
The case was subsequently brought before the Paphos Criminal Court, which found the defendant guilty after hearing the evidence.
Senior Public Prosecutor Xenia Xenofontos represented the prosecution.
Sentencing proceedings continue on 18 November
The case will return to court on 18 November, when the defence lawyers are expected to present their arguments in mitigation.
The sentence will be handed down at a later stage.
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