Suspended Paphos mayor Phedon Phedonos appears before Paphos District Court today for committal proceedings on rape and related charges to be referred to a Criminal Court.
Phedonos faces four counts: rape, indecent assault, administering a stupefying substance with intent to commit a felony or misdemeanour, and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The hearing was originally scheduled at Limassol District Court, but on March 31 a Limassol prosecution representative, exercising the powers of the Attorney General, suspended the criminal proceedings that had been set for April 2.
The court granted permission to discontinue, and the case was re-registered at Paphos District Court — the jurisdiction where the alleged offence took place — and set for today.
The court is expected to impose bail conditions on Phedonos today to secure his attendance at the Criminal Court trial.
The alleged rape was investigated by a special team set up specifically for the case. According to the complaint, the offence is alleged to have taken place 12 years ago, in 2014.
Investigators, who worked under conditions of confidentiality, are reported to have taken more than 20 statements, including, according to earlier reports, from individuals who held public office at the time in question.
Background
Phedonos was placed on mandatory leave on 5 February 2026 under Article 113 of the municipalities law, which is triggered automatically when elected officials face charges carrying a potential prison sentence of more than three years.
The allegations resurfaced in February when Paphos land developer Theodoros Aristodemou accused Phedonos of committing the alleged offence around ten years ago and gave a statement to police.
Phedonos has consistently denied the allegations, describing them as politically motivated and characterising the case as an “orchestrated attack” and a “political assassination.”