Appeals court upholds acquittal in Limassol criminal case

On May 14, 2026, the Appeals Court upheld the Limassol Criminal Court’s acquittal of two out of three defendants involved in a case regarding drug trafficking, illegal weapon possession, money laundering, and participation in a criminal organization between 2020 and 2021. The defendants had faced ten charges, including possession of large quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine, illegal possession of firearms and ammunition, and the laundering of 71,500 euros. The original trial had fully acquitted one defendant, while the second was cleared of charges related to organized crime and money laundering. The Attorney General appealed the decision, arguing that the court had improperly evaluated circumstantial evidence and ignored false claims. The Appeals Court rejected the appeal, stating there was no legal error in the initial ruling and that the evidence provided was insufficient to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. The court clarified that the right to appeal an acquittal is strictly limited to legal issues and does not allow for a re-evaluation of witness credibility or factual findings.