In a trial before the Permanent Criminal Court, which will meet in Paphos, on October 22, the 42-year-old lifer Doros Theofanous and the 26-year-old who allegedly helped Theofanous by transporting him to Limassol when he escaped while visiting his home in Choletria on September 26 appeared. .
The 42-year-old lifer and the 26-year-old, who was a convict in the Central Prisons and maintained very friendly relations with the 42-year-old, were presented today before the Paphos District Court under draconian security measures. The Court ordered that both be brought before the Permanent Criminal Court which will meet in Paphos on 22.10.24 at 09:00 in the morning.
As reported to the Court, between an unknown date and September 26, the defendants conspired to commit a felony. The 42-year-old also faces the offense of escaping from lawful custody.
The 26-year-old also faces the offense of assisting the escape of a person in lawful custody as well as the offense of disobeying lawful orders.
The representative of the Accusing Authority submitted a request before the Court that the two persons remain in custody until their arraignment before the Criminal Court on October 22, 2024, since, as he stated, there is a risk of their escape.
He noted that the fact that the 42-year-old defendant recently tried to escape cannot be overlooked, and for the 26-year-old, he said that he had been sentenced to 16 months in prison in 2021 and that he had violated the terms of his release.
The lawyer of the 42-year-old, Alexandros Alexandrou, did not object to the detention of his client since he is a lifer, however the lawyer of the 26-year-old, Ilias Satolias, filed an objection stating to the Court that his client is innocent until proven involvement in the crimes he is facing .
Specifically, he stated that his 26-year-old client went to Choletria to pick up a relative of the lifer and not himself. He added that the charges against him are being tried at the District Court level and not before the Criminal Court and requested that his client be released until his arraignment in the Criminal Court on October 22.
He said this is a person who has been convicted in the past and who has close ties to the Republic. He asked the Court to release him on the condition that he sign a valid surety, hand over his travel documents, and also visit the nearest police station every day to declare his presence.
The Court reserved its decision on whether or not to detain the 26-year-old until Monday, October 7 at 10:00 am. Until then he ordered that he be taken into custody.
