Appellate court overturns conviction for 2021 Arakapas wildfire

On August 11, 2026, the Cyprus Court of Appeal unanimously overturned the conviction of a 69-year-old man previously found guilty of starting the devastating July 3, 2021, wildfire in Arakapas. The fire, which spread across at least ten communities in the Limassol and Larnaca districts, resulted in the deaths of four Egyptian laborers and destroyed approximately 44.49 square kilometers of land, causing over €15 million in damages.

The original Limassol Criminal Court had sentenced the defendant to eight years in prison in May 2023, based on circumstantial evidence including his presence near his orchard, access to the fire's origin point, and possession of lighters. The Court of Appeal, however, ruled that this evidence was insufficient to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, noting significant gaps in the lower court's reasoning and the absence of direct evidence. While the court acquitted the man of causing the major fire, it upheld a separate conviction for unauthorized outdoor burning on the same day, resulting in a six-month sentence.

The defendant, who consistently maintained his innocence, had already served over three years of his original sentence. Following the appellate ruling, he has been released from prison.