Appeals court overturns drug trafficking conviction of Georgios Christodoulou

The Cyprus Appeals Court has overturned the 22-year prison sentence of Georgios Christodoulou, known as 'Zavrantonas,' for the possession and supply of over 15 kilograms of cocaine. The court ruled the original trial invalid due to a serious procedural error involving the violation of the 'natural judge' principle. Specifically, an intermediate court ruling from December 2020 regarding the defendant's arrest conditions was overlooked, and the subsequent trial was conducted by a different panel of judges than the one that handled the initial motion. The judges unanimously determined this procedural failure constituted a miscarriage of justice. Christodoulou was originally convicted on December 12, 2022, but the appellate decision now mandates a retrial before a newly composed Criminal Court. The first hearing for the retrial is scheduled for May 21, 2026. While his conviction is void, the defendant remains in custody, having already served approximately six years of his sentence. The defense is expected to seek release on conditions during the new proceedings.