Suspended Paphos mayor Phedon Phedonos is set to face charges of rape, sexual abuse and drugging at Limassol District Court, with the indictment expected to be lodged by tomorrow, philenews has learned from cross-checked sources.
Each charge carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment. The indictment is expected to cover four felony counts in total, with three distinct offences identified: rape, sexual abuse, and drugging a person with intent to commit a felony or misdemeanour.
Limassol has been chosen over Paphos — where the alleged offences occurred — for reasons that authorities say preclude a local trial. Those reasons are understood to fully justify the decision, sources said.
The indictment is being finalised by the Police Prosecution. Once complete, Phedonos will be summoned by investigators to be formally charged in writing, police press officer Christodoulos Konsolos confirmed. The Registry will then set a date for a Limassol District Court hearing to refer the case to the court, where bail conditions are expected to be imposed to ensure Phedonos appears before the three-judge panel.
The complaint, examined by a special police investigation team, relates to an alleged rape in 2014. Two years later, the accusation became public in dramatic fashion: Paphos businessman Theodoros Aristodimou went on state broadcaster CyBC and named Phedonos directly, calling him a “rapist and blackmailer.” Aristodimou challenged Phedonos to sue him for defamation, saying he was prepared to substantiate the claims in court.
Phedonos gave investigative testimony as a suspect on 18 February. He declined to answer investigators’ questions, submitting instead a written memorandum outlining his position in broad terms.
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