Appeals court increases sentence for domestic violence offender

On September 24, 2026, the Appeals Court of Cyprus increased the prison sentence of a Somali national from two to three years for domestic violence against his partner. The decision followed an appeal by the Attorney General, who argued that the initial sentence handed down by the Nicosia Assize Court was manifestly inadequate given the severity and duration of the abuse. The defendant had previously pleaded guilty to five charges, including threats, actual bodily harm, unlawful restraint, common assault, and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment.

The case originated from an incident in March 2025 at the couple's apartment. The violence erupted after the woman refused to drive the defendant to purchase narcotics. During the assault, which lasted from midnight until 5 a.m., the man beat his partner, causing her to lose consciousness. The original trial court had imposed a two-year sentence for the charge of degrading treatment while consolidating the other charges under the same behavioral umbrella, a decision the appellate judges—M. Ambiza, S. Christodoulou Messiou, and I. Stylianidou—ruled was insufficient for the gravity of the offenses committed.