Appeals court upholds COVID-19 mask violation conviction

The Nicosia Appeals Court has unanimously rejected an appeal filed by a man convicted of violating COVID-19 safety regulations. The court upheld the original ruling from the Nicosia District Court, which fined the individual €350 plus €75 in court costs. The violation occurred on March 27, 2021, when the defendant was observed traveling in a vehicle with a person from a different household without wearing a protective face mask, in direct contradiction of the Health Minister’s decree issued during the pandemic.

The appellant presented five grounds for his appeal, primarily arguing that the original trial took place in his absence and that he had been misinformed regarding the scheduled time of the hearing. Additionally, he challenged the evaluation of the evidence presented during the initial trial. However, the appellate judges found all five arguments groundless, concluding that the original proceedings were valid and the conviction for breaching the Quarantine Law was sound. This decision marks the final resolution of the legal challenge regarding this specific incident, effectively confirming the penalties imposed for the 2021 infraction.