Phedonos could be ‘formally indicted immediately’

Furloughed Paphos mayor Phedonas Phedonos could be formally indicted as early as this week, reports said on Tuesday, while his attorney told the Cyprus Mail they have yet to receive any paperwork from authorities.

Multiple media outlets reported that Phedonos, currently suspended from his duties pending the outcome of police investigations, faces charges of rape and indecent assault/sexual abuse. The same reports said the attorney-general’s office has decided to file charges, and could do so over the next few days.

The Cyprus News Agency reported that the file has been returned to the police to write up the charge sheet; this is subsequently vetted and approved by the attorney-general.

The Cyprus Mail attempted to contact a senior official at the attorney-general’s office, but the person could not be reached by the time of this report.

In a brief telephone conversation, Phedonos’ attorney Christos Pourgourides told us that neither he nor his client have been formally notified of anything.

The lawyer decried the fact that information about possible indictments is being leaked to the media. He offered no further comment.

Press reports converged on that the upcoming indictment relates to an incident taking place in 2014. It is understood a complaint had been filed at the time, but the case went nowhere then.

The case resurfaced earlier this year after businessman Theodoros Aristodemou made public accusations that prompted a police investigation and the reopening of the file.

In 2016, Aristodemou had appeared on a CyBC programme, calling Phedonos a “rapist and a blackmailer”. He then challenged Phedonos to sue him in court to prove him wrong.

On February 18 this year, the mayor – accompanied by his lawyers – was deposed at CID headquarters in Nicosia. He reportedly submitted a written statement, and did not answer questions.

According to Phileleftheros, Phedonos faces at least three charges – rape, sexual abuse involving penetration, and drugging/sedating a person with the intention of committing a crime or misdemeanor.

If proved in a court of law, all three charges carry a life sentence.

Phedonos has rejected the accusations and described the case as politically motivated.

Additional allegations circulated in recent weeks following claims by a social media influencer alleging that Phedonos had assaulted his wife in 2017.

Phedonos’ spouse publicly rejected those claims and defended her husband.

Justice Minister Costas Fitiris had also said arrangements could be made for statements to be taken from individuals currently abroad if necessary for the investigation.