The Court of Appeal has ordered the detention of A.F. until 21 September, overturning a first-instance ruling that had released him on conditional bail, after finding a serious risk that he would reoffend.
A.F. faces 11 criminal charges before the Nicosia District Court, including causing actual bodily harm, common assault, malicious damage, harassment, threatening behaviour and psychological abuse.
In a unanimous ruling, the Court of Appeal found that the first-instance court had erred in deciding to release the respondent on conditional bail.
According to the ruling, the risk that he would reoffend is "more than evident" and justifies his detention until trial.
The Court of Appeal took into account, among other things, that three other criminal cases are pending against the respondent, and that he has two prior convictions.
In one of the pending cases, according to the ruling, he faces charges including child sexual abuse and the distribution of pornographic material.
The Court of Appeal noted in its ruling that the offences in the present case are alleged to have been committed during a period when the respondent was free on bail conditions intended to secure his presence in other criminal cases.
The court also noted that the charges in the present case cover the period from July 2024 to August 2026, and took into account the respondent's criminal record and pending cases.
According to the ruling, establishing a risk of reoffending does not require specific or precise evidence. It is sufficient, based on the totality of the evidence, for there to be a strong impression that such a risk exists, the ruling notes.
In relation to the present case, the complainant had withdrawn her complaints via sworn statements and had said she did not wish to testify against the respondent.
The Court of Appeal, however, found that the withdrawal of the complaint does not affect the matter under consideration, namely the existence of a risk of reoffending.
The first-instance court had previously rejected the prosecution's request for detention, both on the grounds of flight risk and risk of reoffending, and had instead imposed conditions on the defendant, along with removal orders and orders barring contact with the complainant and her mother.
The Court of Appeal did not examine the question of flight risk further, finding that the established risk of reoffending was, on its own, sufficient to justify detention.
As a result, it quashed the first-instance order for conditional release, the conditions that had been imposed, and the related removal and no-contact orders.
The respondent will remain in custody until his next appearance before the Nicosia District Court, on 21 September 2026, at 8.30am.
Source: Cyprus News Agency (CNA)
