Fined for Shorts in Cyprus Court (and more for Sat Dish on Roof)

 

You need planning permission to install a large satellite dish on a roof in Cyprus.  The issue is that these can obstruct the views of others and clutter the sky line.  In addition you need a licence costing CYP60.  This has not been enforced recently but who knows what can happen as a consequence of this court case !!

And always have a spare pair of trews in case you need to go to a Cyprus Court unexpectedly !! 

 From the Cyprus Mail

 THE CO-OWNER of a satellite dish has found himself on the wrong side of the law after being kicked out of a Paphos court for wearing shorts, fined £100, had an arrest warrant issued against him and made to pay a £500 bail bond over the simple issue of not owning a permit.

The Kissonerga resident told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that even if he wanted to obtain a permit, he couldn’t as the developers of his property still owned the title deeds.
Jonathan Peach is at his wit’s end over the affair. “I’ve tried to do everything by the book and yet find myself under threat of arrest and imprisonment while the rest of Paphos, and the country for that matter, continues to own satellite dishes without any bother at all,” said Peach.

The 50-year-old captain of a ship in the offshore oil industry decided with four other flat owners in the Kissonerga Hills complex to install a 2.7m satellite dish in 2004. Despite getting the mukhtar’s approval, the dish incurred the ire of one individual who owns the block of houses opposite. The Paphos municipality got in touch with Peach in late 2005, informing him that a permit was needed for any dish over one metre in diameter.

“I got the architect to draw up the plans only to be told I couldn’t make the application since I did not hold the title deed to my property. Like half the people in Cyprus, it’s in the hands of the developers. For various reasons, the developers refused to sign the form on my behalf and I was taken to court,” said Peach.

“I had no idea in the first place that a permit was needed. When I asked the municipality how many permits they had issued so far, they said none. Given the number of satellites in Paphos I was shocked,” he added.

As part of his job, Peach goes to sea for weeks at a time. In January 2007, he missed a court hearing while at sea and was asked to pay £200 in bail bond to ensure he appeared at the next hearing.

After a number of adjournments for which Peach always wore smart shorts and shoes given the summer heat, he was finally instructed to appear before Judge Maro Papadima in the Paphos District Court on July 17, 2007. Representing himself, when his case came up that day in court, the judge, through a translator, asked him to leave the court immediately without explanation. He was later told by the municipality’s district officer that the judge had taken offence to his wearing shorts.

“I had been to court many times before that and the male judge presiding at the time never said anything so I was completely taken aback. I never meant any disrespect,” said Peach.

Three months later, after returning from another trip out at sea, he was informed on September 13 that Peyia Police had a warrant for his arrest for not appearing in court on July 17.

“I went to court that same day, in trousers of course, and explained to the judge that I had been present that day but that she had kicked me out. Mrs Papadima was having none of it. She fined me £100 for the shorts and ordered me to pay a £500 security bond in cash immediately or be arrested and sent to jail until the next hearing in eight days. I was taken out of the court like a common criminal and held under police escort until I could retrieve the cash from my home,” he said.

“The £100 seemed a bit excessive as on the same day my friend was charged £75 for drink driving. And £500 security bond seems more fit for an armed robber than a guy without a satellite dish permit,” added Peach.

At the next court hearing, Judge Papadima set a new date for some time in November. When Peach asked to change the date as he would be at sea on that date, the judge refused to do so, implying it was his choice whether he wanted to turn up or not.

“I respect the law and the Cyprus government. My family have been happily living in Cyprus for six years and wish to continue doing so. But when I unknowingly offended a judge and then was accused of not turning up for court when I did, I was arrested like a serious criminal. There is no sense of fairness in this judgement at all.”

“Apart from that, how many people out there know they need a permit? If I end up having to take mine down, it doesn’t seem fair that the rest of Paphos gets to keep theirs probably without any permits. Does the law only apply to one person?” he asked.

Peach complained to the Attorney-general and the Ombudswoman but both authorities said the matter was not within their competences. The captain also wrote to the Supreme Court and is now waiting for a reply.

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