Appeals court increases father's prison sentence for child sexual abuse

On Monday, May 18, 2026, the Cyprus Court of Appeal unanimously increased a prison sentence for a man convicted of sexually abusing his underage daughter. The defendant, originally sentenced in 2023 by the Limassol Criminal Court to six years in prison for two concurrent counts, had his sentence raised to ten years for each count, to run concurrently. Attorney General George Savvides filed the appeal, arguing that the original punishment was manifestly insufficient given the gravity of the offenses and the perpetrator's abuse of his position of trust and authority. The appellate court agreed, citing the need for deterrent sentences due to an alarming rise in such crimes and the necessity of protecting minor victims. The judges noted that the original sentence failed to reflect the court's own findings regarding the severity of the case. All previous orders, including the defendant's referral to the Supervisory Authority, remain in effect. State prosecutor Louiza Sigar represented the Attorney General's office in the proceedings.