Court of Appeal increases sentence for Nicosia arsonist

The Nicosia Court of Appeal has increased the prison sentence of a 26-year-old man convicted of arson from one year to two years. The ruling, issued on October 12, 2026, followed an appeal by the Attorney General, who argued that the original sentence was manifestly inadequate for an offense that carries a maximum penalty of 14 years under Article 315(a) of the Criminal Code. Despite the increase in the prison term, the Court of Appeal upheld the initial decision to suspend the execution of the sentence, citing the defendant's personal circumstances and genuine remorse as grounds for a second chance.

The case stems from an incident on November 7, 2023, when the defendant set fire to a vehicle in a Nicosia parking lot. The motivation behind the act was jealousy, stemming from an incident in August 2023, when the man witnessed his partner kissing the vehicle's owner. After deciding to act, the perpetrator retrieved a container of petrol from his apartment building's basement and proceeded to the parking area near where the victim worked. Although the Attorney General challenged the suspension of the sentence, the appellate court ruled that the trial court acted within its discretion, allowing the perpetrator to remain free under the terms of his suspended sentence.