Appeals court increases sentence for domestic violence offender

The Cyprus Court of Appeal has increased the prison sentence for a Somali national from two to three years, ruling that the initial sentence imposed by the Nicosia Criminal Court was insufficient given the severity of the domestic violence committed against his partner. The judges, M. Abiza, St. Christodoulou-Messiou, and I. Stylianidou, unanimously accepted the appeal filed by the Attorney General, citing the need for stronger deterrents against such inhumane and degrading treatment.

The defendant, identified as M.A., had pleaded guilty to five counts, including threats, assault causing actual bodily harm, unlawful restraint, and inhumane treatment. The physical violence occurred between midnight and 5:00 a.m. after the victim refused to drive the perpetrator to purchase narcotics. The case originated from a relationship that began in March 2022 when the victim was working at a primary reception center. The perpetrator had entered the Republic of Cyprus through the occupied territories. The court found that the violence was sustained and severe, warranting a harsher punishment than the original two-year term, which had covered all charges under a single sentencing umbrella.