Supreme court overturns decision to release sexual abuse suspect until trial

The supreme court on Monday overturned a decision early in June to release a man suspected of molesting two underage boys and an adult male pending his trial.

The man had been referred to trial before the Nicosia criminal court on several charges relating to sexual offences involving two underage boys and an adult male, but the district court released him despite the prosecution’s request to remand him in custody pending trial.

Prosecutors argued that the man was at risk of flight and there was also a possibility of committing more offences.

There was also evidence that the defendant had tried to influence a key witness in the case, the prosecution said.

The Legal Service appealed the June 8 decision and the supreme court on Monday upheld the appeal and ordered police to detain the defendant pending his trial.