Trial of Ayia Napa Mayor Christos Zannettou postponed for the sixth time

The trial of the Mayor of Ayia Napa, Christos Zannettou, has been postponed for the sixth time, with hearings now rescheduled for September. Zannettou faces charges related to a 765,000 euro European grant allegedly misused for his hotel upgrade approximately 15 years ago. The indictment was served in July 2024, and the trial was originally slated for February 11, 2025. Previous delays were caused by missing evidentiary material, scheduling conflicts with other high-priority cases, and the court's calendar. During the most recent session, defense attorney Ilias Stefanou requested a postponement citing a heavy workload in Larnaca and Nicosia courts. Prosecutor Eria Papaloizou did not object to the request, though she emphasized that the trial must commence as soon as possible. The presiding judge of the Famagusta Criminal Court, Tonia Nikolaou, subsequently granted the delay to the autumn. The case remains a significant legal matter involving regional administrative accountability.