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Appeal Court Rejects Bail Request for French Warrant Suspect

Published January 8, 2026, 09:15
Appeal Court Rejects Bail Request for French Warrant Suspect

The Appeal Court rejected a bail request for a suspect held in Cyprus under a European Arrest Warrant. The decision was based on the assessment that the issuance of a first-instance decision for his extradition to France significantly increases the risk of flight, which cannot be adequately addressed by milder measures. The suspect had filed an appeal against the first-instance decision, which is pending, and simultaneously requested his release on bail, under the same conditions as in the initial proceedings. His application was supported by an affidavit from a lawyer, who cited his family, professional and social integration in Cyprus, as well as health problems. According to the defense, the suspect has been permanently residing in Limassol since 2019, is married with two children, a businessman and a member of the Jewish community. He also argued that the amount of money he is alleged to have received (approximately $20,000) does not justify continued detention. The prosecution opposed the request, arguing that the existence of a first-instance extradition decision increases the risk of flight and that the suspect's ties to Cyprus cannot neutralize it. Furthermore, it emphasized that his health problems are adequately addressed and that past compliance with bail conditions no longer provides sufficient guarantees.