Paphos court orders closed-door trial for Phedon Fedonos

The Paphos Assize Court has ruled that the upcoming trial of Phedon Fedonos will be held in camera to protect the complainant. The defendant, who previously served as the Mayor of Paphos, faces five criminal charges, including rape, indecent assault, assault causing bodily harm, and the administration of substances to neutralize a person's resistance. These charges stem from an alleged 2014 incident that was initially investigated by a specialized team and later moved from the Limassol District Court to the Paphos Assize Court by the Attorney General's office. On June 24, Fedonos pleaded not guilty to all five charges. Prosecutor Eirini Savva requested the closed-door proceedings, citing legislative provisions for victim protection, a motion that defense counsel Christos Pourgourides did not contest. The trial is scheduled to begin on July 27 and will continue through July 31, with daily sessions starting at 9:00 am. More than 20 statements were collected during the investigation, some of which were provided by individuals holding public office at the time of the alleged event.