The charge sheet against suspended Paphos mayor Phedon Phedonos is expected to be drawn up today and filed in court by tomorrow at the latest, a competent source told philenews.
If the reported charges are confirmed, Phedonos will face three counts — rape, sexual abuse by penetration, and administering a stupefying substance with intent to commit a felony or misdemeanour — all of which carry a maximum sentence of life imprisonment under the Criminal Code.
The news that the Law Office had instructed police to register a charge sheet confirms information that emerged in early March about the progress of the investigation.
A special investigative team, operating under strict secrecy, reportedly gathered more than 20 statements in connection with the alleged rape, which is said to have taken place in 2014. Among those who gave statements were individuals who held public office at the time of the alleged offence, according to philenews sources.
The case has a long public history. In 2016, businessman Theodoros Aristodemou publicly called Phedonos a “rapist and blackmailer” during a CyBC television programme, challenging him to take legal action to prove the claims were unfounded.
On 18 February, Phedonos attended investigative questioning at Nicosia CID accompanied by his lawyers Epaminondas Korakidis and Christos Pourgouridis. He appeared as a controlled person, submitted a written memorandum and declined to answer questions put to him.
Philenews contacted Korakidis after the questioning to give him the opportunity to comment on behalf of his client. He declined and asked not to be contacted again.
A television crew was present outside the Nicosia CID building on the same day. A member of Phedonos’s entourage warned the crew that legal action would follow if any footage was taken.
