A 69-year-old lawyer has been sentenced to six months in prison for issuing a €175,000 bounced cheque linked to a failed investment scheme. The Limassol District Court delivered the verdict last Tuesday, finding the lawyer guilty of the offence while serving as a company director.
The case revolved around a cheque dated 1st October 2019, issued against a debt on 4th September 2019. When the cheque was presented to the bank on 25th February 2020, it was rejected due to the closure of the issuer’s bank account. The cheque remained unpaid for 15 days, leading to further legal proceedings.
In addition to the prison sentence, the lawyer’s company faced a fine of €4,000. During the trial, District Judge Afroditi L. Parparinou emphasised the severity of the offence and the necessity for a deterrent sentence, despite acknowledging the defendant’s remorse, clean criminal record, and personal circumstances.
Judge Parparinou stated, “Mitigating factors cannot override the need for effective application of the law.” She expressed concern that a non-custodial sentence would fail to serve as a deterrent, especially given the ongoing problem of issuing cheques without sufficient funds.
The court also heard from the complainant, who testified about being persuaded by the lawyer to invest in a shipping fund scheme. Initially cautious, the complainant eventually invested €150,000, believing he would receive his capital back along with a profit of €25,000. However, when the promised returns failed to materialise, the lawyer resorted to issuing the bounced cheque under pressure.
The complainant’s testimony was compelling, and he was represented in court by Christos Hadjieleftheriou of Maria Neofytou and Associates LLC, while the lawyer chose to represent himself. The judge ultimately ruled that the absence of any payment towards the cheque reinforced the decision to impose a prison sentence.
