Appeals court upholds detention for man facing sexual assault charges

The Appeals Court has rejected an appeal by a defendant held in custody for serious sexual offenses, confirming the Paphos Criminal Court's decision to maintain his detention until trial. The accused faces eight charges, including rape, two counts of sexual harassment, two counts of indecent assault, corruption of a woman with mental or psychiatric disabilities, psychological violence, and harassment. The alleged crimes took place in August 2025, with specific sources citing the date as August 9. The defendant has been in custody since his referral to the Criminal Court on August 22, 2025. Following several delays due to procedural issues and changes in legal counsel, the trial is scheduled to begin on June 15, 2026. The defense argued that the detention was unjustified, citing a lack of genetic evidence on the victim's body and alleged contradictions in the complainant's statements to argue a low probability of conviction. The Appeals Court ruled that the lower court acted correctly, noting that assessments of witness credibility are reserved for the upcoming trial proceedings.