Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire / SplashNews.com / Michael Brochstein/ZUMA Press Wire / SplashNews.com Because of her late start in the 2024 presidential campaign, vice president and presumptive Democratic nominee Kamala Harris has not had much time to roll out an economic platform. She was expected to do so this week, though what she unveils might … Read more
A 49-year-old maths teacher has been remanded in custody for eight days in Nicosia for two cases of sexual harassment involving underage female pupils aged 16 and 13. The 16-year-old reported that the teacher touched her thigh and breast during a lesson, while the 13-year-old also filed a complaint leading to the suspect’s arrest. The suspect’s detention order expires on May 28, with the possibility of renewal for further investigations.
A 50-year-old man was convicted on 15 charges of sexually abusing his 11-year-old foster daughter over the course of a year, as ruled by a court in Limassol. The man committed the crimes against the minor in the home where she lived as a foster child. The court found prosecutors’ witnesses credible and the defense witnesses, including the accused, unreliable. The defendant denied the charges, leading to a trial. The victim, now 14, was placed in the foster home three years ago after receiving little affection from her biological parents. She eventually spoke out about the abuse, leading to a complaint with authorities and the subsequent prosecution at the Limassol Criminal Court.
Film director Roman Polanski was acquitted by a French court of defaming British actress Charlotte Lewis, who accused him of raping her when she was a teenager. Lewis alleged the abuse occurred in 1983 when she was 16, after traveling to Paris for a casting session. Polanski called her accusations a “heinous lie” in a 2019 interview, leading to the defamation lawsuit. Lewis disputed a quote attributed to her in a 1999 interview, and Polanski’s lawyer celebrated the verdict as a win for free speech. Despite the acquittal, Lewis expressed disappointment and stated she would appeal. Polanski has faced multiple sexual assault allegations, denying them all, and has struggled to secure distribution deals for his films in the wake of the #MeToo movement.
Kevin Spacey overturned a London court ruling that found him liable for an alleged sexual assault after his lawyers failed to serve a defense in a civil lawsuit. The man suing Spacey for the assault will now proceed to a full trial.
French actor Gerard Depardieu will be tried in October for alleged sexual assaults against two women during a 2021 film shoot.
Harvey Weinstein’s 2020 rape conviction has been overturned by a New York court, leading to a new trial in the landmark #MeToo case. The court found that the trial judge made errors by allowing testimony from women not part of the charges and by allowing prejudicial cross-examination. The decision now rests with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on whether to retry Weinstein, who is currently serving a 23-year prison sentence.
The U.S. Justice Department reached a 8.7 million civil settlement with hundreds of victims of former USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar, resolving claims that the FBI botched the initial investigation into Nassar.
Fact: One in five pupils in Cyprus is a victim of school bullying, according to a study conducted by the Paedagogical Institute in collaboration with the University of Cyprus.
Fact: Over 1,000 children in Cyprus are estimated to be victims of sexual abuse every year.