Suspended Paphos mayor Phedon Phedonos has been served with an indictment on four criminal charges, including rape, relating to an alleged incident in 2014, according to a source who informed Philenews on Thursday.
The four charges are: rape, indecent assault, administering a substance to stupefy with intent to commit a felony or misdemeanour, and assault causing actual bodily harm.
The case was registered with the court registry earlier on Thursday. Phedonos is due to make his first appearance before Limassol District Court on 2 April, when the referral procedure to the Assize Court will take place. The District Court will also impose bail conditions at that hearing to secure his attendance at trial.
The alleged offence was investigated by a specially constituted investigative team operating under strict secrecy. Investigators are reported to have taken more than 20 statements, including from individuals who held public office at the time of the alleged incident.
On 18 February, Phedonos appeared for an investigative statement at the Nicosia TAE offices at 4pm, accompanied by his lawyers Epaminondas Korakidis and Christos Pougouridis. He appeared as a controlled suspect, submitted a written memorandum and did not answer questions put to him.
Philenews contacted Korakidis after the statement to give him the opportunity to comment on behalf of his client. He declined and asked not to be contacted again.
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