Cyprus: Nine-Year Sentence Upheld in Rape Case

The Cyprus Court of Appeal has upheld a nine-year prison sentence imposed on a man for raping a woman in Limassol in 2022.

The court rejected the defendant's appeal, ruling that the exploitation of the victim's inability to consent due to intoxication and the severe psychological impact justified the harsh sentence.

According to the findings, the woman was intoxicated after consuming alcohol at a nightclub. The defendant took her to his apartment and engaged in a sexual act without her consent.

The first instance court had convicted the man of rape, in accordance with Article 144 of the Penal Code and the legislation on combating violence against women.

The Court of Appeal emphasized that sexual offenses are serious crimes that require deterrent sentences, and rejected the appeal.