NCO accused of homophobia will see case handed over to legal service

The case file over the allegedly homophobic rant posted by a non-commissioned officer (NCO) to TikTok is expected to be handed to the legal service early next week.

The suspect faces up to five years in prison if he is handed the maximum penalty for violating the law on homophobia, racism, and xenophobia online.

Marina Christodoulidou, from the police’s communications team, explained that the force’s investigation is in its final stage after having secured a court warrant to search the suspect’s house, where they seized a computer for evidence.

The contentious video begins with the non-commissioned officer saying: “You are gay and wrong, going against nature.”

“You should shut your ass and your mouth and work with the tools you have to become a man, in the way God naturally created you.”

For their part, a defence ministry spokesperson stated that: “We accept every person the way they are. There is no discrimination against anyone, and rest assured that this will be investigated and the findings will be published”.

Cyprus has passed a series of laws seeking to safeguard the LGBT community, particularly in the build up to the island joining the EU. Same sex activity has been legal since 1998.