‘Woman-hating’ Ayia Napa judge threw out another victim’s case after accusing her of lying 2yrs before convicting Brit
A JUDGE who convicted a Brit teenager over a fake rape claim was involved in another controversial sex attack case two years ago.
Judge Michaelis Papathanasiou will tomorrow sentence the girl, 19, who faces a year in jail in a case that has sparked huge backlash.
The Sun can now reveal the same judge astonishingly cleared a 30-year-old man of attacking a 52-year-old woman after dismissing her evidence.
He ruled the woman made up the claims because she was jealous the man had cheated on her with another lover.
Anti-rape campaign groups in Cyprus said the case at Limassol court in 2018 showed Judge Papathanasiou has a “dislike of women”.
PREVIOUS TRIAL
In his ruling two years ago, he said:”I’ve listened to the woman very carefully. I can’t rely on her testimony.
“The witness in my opinion did not tell the truth and I will say that her testimony shows contradictions, confusion but also general vague and unreasonable positions.”
A prosecution source involved in the case said: “We were surprised the trial went against us as we felt the evidence was strong.”
In a striking similarity to the British case the judge overruled damning evidence of physical violence against the Cypriot woman.
Judge Papathanasiou said in his 2018 ruling:'”I do not accept the complainant suffered a beating,” despite evidence presented by prosecutors.
RAPE CASE
In the Brit teenager’s case, he amazingly dismissed a defence report on the girl’s bruises finding in favour with the prosecutor who said they were jellyfish stings.
She was found guilty of making up claims she was raped by 12 young Israelis – despite saying Cypriot police coerced her into a confession after a bungled investigation.
Government sources have now indicated Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades has already decided to pardon her and allow her to return home, even if she receives a jail term according to the Times.
It is thought that the announcement will be made after the court ruling due to her age and the outrage that has followed the case.
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Maria Mappouridou, of Network Against Violence Against Women, said:”Both cases are surprisingly similar and both have the same verdict. He believed the rapist.
“I don’t think it’s entirely the judge’s fault as the problems begins with the police who are just not interested in doing their job properly.
“However it does seem as if this judge is prejudiced towards women and rape victims. It’s very alarming that the cases are so similar with both women treated so badly.”