Police have launched an investigation into Paphos Mayor Phedon Phedonos over allegations of domestic violence, following the circulation of hospital documents on social media.
Police spokesman Christodoulos Konsolos confirmed yesterday that authorities are investigating the case of their own accord. Police are also examining potential violations of data protection laws, according to Konsolos.
The investigation follows the publication on social media of at least three documents that appear to show the mayor’s wife, Louiza Andreou, attending the Accident and Emergency Department at Nicosia General Hospital on 13 March 2017 at 19:15.
One document shows a handwritten note in the “main symptom” field stating “beating by spouse“. A second document indicates Andreou underwent radiological examination. A third document’s diagnosis field contains a handwritten note stating “reported beating” with injuries listed as “head, neck, thigh trauma”.
The documents indicate triage occurred at 19:18, three minutes after arrival, with entry to the A&E ward at 21:59.
Three electronic records show Andreou visited A&E on 13 March 2017, remaining from 21:15 to 23:59. She attended an orthopaedic department on 17 March 2017 and made a third visit on 30 May 2017, roughly two and a half months after the incident.
An additional document, described as an alleged letter of complaint, reportedly accuses the mayor of various matters including domestic violence against his wife. The letter was reportedly sent to former President Nikos Anastasiades, the Parliament President, the Attorney General, the Police Chief and party leaders, though the timing remains unknown.
The police examination is expected to establish the authenticity of the documents and records. Statements from doctors and nurses at Nicosia A&E are anticipated.
Former Police Chief Kypros Michaelides, speaking on SIGMA TV’s “Protosélido” programme, said the documents require verification. He noted that similar information reached police around 2018-19, but the case did not proceed because several people refused to give statements and the Law Office instructed against prosecution due to insufficient evidence.
Michaelides said prosecutions can proceed even without a complaint from the victim based on the Istanbul Convention.
In a written statement yesterday, Phedonos said the claims are untrue and welcomed the investigation to clear his name. He described the allegations as part of an organised war against him by political and economic interests and organised crime, adding that claims come from a woman who appears to live in Russia.
Andreou said in a social media post on Saturday that her family faces a coordinated attack aimed at politically damaging her husband. In a post yesterday morning, she stated she never reported her husband to police and that claims she gave statements are completely false.
