Appeals court confirms conviction in Paphos neighborhood dispute

The Cyprus Appeals Court has unanimously upheld the conviction of a woman residing on the ground floor of an apartment building in Paphos regarding a long-standing dispute with her upstairs neighbors. The conflict, which began after the neighbors purchased the upper-level property from the woman, centered on access to the building's roof terrace.

On February 5, 2018, the woman was found guilty of publicly insulting her neighbor using offensive language. Subsequently, on May 8, 2018, she intentionally blocked the building's drainage gutters with pieces of wood. This act caused rainwater to flood the neighbors' apartment, resulting in damages assessed at €2,550. Although the defendant appealed the verdict, claiming the damage was caused by natural rainfall rather than her actions, the Appeals Court rejected her argument, confirming the lower court’s ruling on both counts of public insult and malicious damage to property.