The legal service in consultation with the president of the Republic is considering intervening after a man was jailed for 45 days by Famagusta district court yesterday for breaking the lockdown, attorney general Costas Clerides told CNA
The man was sentenced to jail with immediate effect after he broke the curfew in order to go see his girlfriend.
The attorney general was asked by CNA to comment on the decision and whether he was considering intervening.
Asked to comment on the same case, the legal advisor to the Association for the Protection of Prisoners and Released Prisoners Alexandros Clerides said that at a time when efforts are underway to prevent prison overcrowding, it was concerning to see such developments.
Since 2017, the association has been urging alternative sentences in such cases. The court has the authority to impose the sentence it deems appropriate given the facts before it, including suspending a sentence.
An alternative sentence could have been a court order to work in a hospital under supervision for 45 days, he said.
“The immediate imprisonment of a person should always be the last option in cases where any other sentence cannot be applied, he added.
As regards the specific case he said it should be explored whether the law itself provides for a sentence which is disproportionate to the seriousness of the offence and whether the law was actually in effect when the offence was committed, he also said.
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