Police officer charged with rape released from custody

A police officer facing trial for rape and domestic violence has won an appeal that means he will be released from custody on bail, it emerged on Tuesday.

The officer, who works for the secret service, faces a disciplinary investigation and has been charged with the rape of his wife, violence in the presence of a minor, threats, attack and psychological violence against a woman on five different occasions between 2019 and 2024.  

Nicosia district court had on July 10 ordered the man remain in custody until his trial begins on October 4. It made the decision on the grounds that the officer may influence a witness and the danger that he may commit more crimes.

Court heard that the officer had threatened his wife that if she spoke out she would have a heavy price to pay. Though she had been reluctant to report him, their 17-year-old daughter eventually pushed her to speak out.

The officer’s daughter, wife and mother-in-law had proven instrumental in the initial decision to keep him in custody, with the judge saying “there is a strong impression that if the defendant is released, he will commit new crimes.”

The officer, who previously spent years in the criminal investigation department (CID) appealed the custody decision on five grounds, primarily arguing that the decision was made ignoring defence’s testimony.

In a unanimous decision, the appeals court on Friday expressed its disagreement with the custodial decision and decided the officer should be released on €15,000 bail, and appear before a specific police station three times a week.

He must hand over all his travel documents and be placed on a stop list, while he is barred from approaching his wife, her home or workplace at a distance of less than 100m. The same applies to any of those who filed a report and he is barred from contacting them in any way.