Instructions for criminal prosecution have been issued by the Legal Service, following the completion of its investigative work, in relation to the suspended Mayor of Paphos, Phedon Phedonos, and the alleged rape case, according to journalistic information.
As a result, the case is expected to be filed before the Court within the coming days. The offences the suspended mayor is reportedly facing are rape and indecent assault.
The offences, for which the Legal Service is preparing the filing before the Justice system, are alleged to have been committed in 2014. According to the same information, the investigative work has been completed, and the Legal Service, based on the material gathered by investigators, has determined that sufficient evidence has been secured for the case to be brought before a Court.
The case file now returns to the Police for the preparation of the charge sheet, after which a final decision will be taken as to whether the case will be filed before the Paphos District Court or the Assize Court. In this particular case, due to the nature of the offences, the procedure is expected to begin at the Paphos District Court and then be referred to the Assize Court, as reported.
It is recalled that, according to the history of the case, the file had been forwarded to the Legal Service on 26 February and, after being examined, was returned, according to the same sources, to the Police with instructions for further investigative work. Subsequently, the case file was recently returned from Police Headquarters to the Legal Service.
It was then reviewed and evaluated. Based on the prescribed procedure, an officer of the Legal Service assessed the testimonial material and the evidence that had been collected, on the basis of complaints made by a businessman and by the alleged victim.
Finally, it is noted that the guilt or innocence of a person is determined before a Court of law, and for all accused persons the presumption of innocence applies until proven guilty beyond reasonable doubt by the Court.
Also read: Suspended Paphos mayor’s alleged rape case goes to court
