Appeals court rejects bid to increase sentence for witness non-cooperation

On October 30, 2026, the Cyprus Court of Appeal rejected a request by the Attorney General to add a new ground of appeal aimed at increasing the sentence of an individual, identified as G.T., who refused to testify against his co-defendants. The defendant had been previously sentenced by the Nicosia Assize Court to two and a half years and six months in prison for arson and property damage, with the sentence suspended for three years. The lower court had initially treated his intent to testify as a mitigating factor during sentencing.

Following his conviction, G.T. opted not to testify, citing death threats against himself and his family, along with the police's inability to guarantee his safety. The Attorney General sought to amend the appeal to request a harsher sentence as a consequence of this non-cooperation. The Court of Appeal rejected this move, criticizing the prosecution's handling of the case and characterizing the attempt to increase the penalty as retaliatory rather than a legal necessity. The ruling highlights ongoing tensions between the judiciary and the Attorney General’s office regarding witness management and the implications of broken cooperation agreements in criminal proceedings.