Criminal Law
Criminal law is the instrument that Societies use to criminalise certain misbehaviours of citizens, turning them into crimes, with sanctions that deprive the individual of his/her liberty and of economic nature (fines).
In Cyprus the main legislation that contains most of the criminal offences of the Republic is the Penal Code Chap. 154. Of course, there are a number of special laws that create criminal offences that are not in the Penal Code, the purpose of which is to criminalise a particular offence, such as the laws on sexual exploitation of children, money laundering, anti-corruption offences, etc.
1
Drug-related offences
In Cyprus, illegal drugs are defined as controlled drugs and are grouped into different classes A, B and C according to their degree of danger, with Class A being the most dangerous. It is prohibited to possess any quantity of drugs, even for personal use. The law provides for certain quantities which, if exceeded, will lead to a rebuttable presumption that the person possessed them with
intent to supply unless he or she provides an explanation that the drugs were for personal use. Our law firm has extensive experience defending defendants charged with drug offences.
2
Sexual Offences
They cover the offences of rape, indecent assault, abduction for the purpose of sexual intercourse, etc.
As far as children are concerned, there is a special law that aims to prevent, suppress and combat the offences of sexual abuse and exploitation of children and child pornography.
Our law firm has considerable experience in defending sexual offences as well as offences involving child pornography.
3
Offences against the person
They concern a category of offences that cause bodily harm, or threats of bodily harm, the most serious of which is the killing of a person.
Our law firm has many years of experience, in relation to offences of attempted murder and actual or grievous bodily harm.
4
Property offences
The offences of theft, burglary, robbery, forgery, receiving stolen property, unlawful retention of property, etc. Our firm has defended many defendants in connection with offences against property.
5
Death Interrogation
In cases of sudden death where the cause of death is unknown, a provincial judge acting as a death investigator shall conduct a death investigation to establish the identity of the deceased and the time, place and manner of death. The procedure is not offered to establish responsibility on a person, as this will be considered in the context of advancing separate criminal and possibly civil proceedings. Our firm has many years of experience in representing the family of the deceased in the proceedings, with the aim of demonstrating that the death was not from natural causes but due to negligence so that the findings of the coroner can later be used as evidence in a civil action against the person who was negligent and caused the death.
6
Disciplinary proceedings
Various employees are members of organisations/associations and are subject to various regulations and codes of conduct, the violation of which may be considered misconduct leading to possible sanctions, irrespective of any criminal liability that may arise. Such disciplinary proceedings are common as far as the Police, Military, Accountants, Lawyers, etc. are concerned. Such disciplinary proceedings with the right to a hearing and the possibility of sanctions being imposed on the offender are considered as quasi-criminal proceedings and the offender may need the support of a lawyer.
