LEGAL REPRESENTATION IN CYPRUS AGAINST ROBBERY AND THEFT CHARGES
Law firm specializing in defending allegations of theft and robbery
The Theft Act clearly defines robbery, theft, and other associated offences. Let’s take a brief look at them.
Theft
“Theft involves the dishonest appropriation of property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving the other person of it”. (Cyprus Criminal Code (Cap. 154).
Theft, in simple terms, is dishonestly taking possession of property belonging to someone else. The intention is to deprive the real owner of the property permanently.
The definition of theft in the Cyprus Criminal Code (Cap. 154) actually encompasses a whole range of offences. Whether shoplifting, theft during employment, theft of a motor vehicle and so on.
Theft offences are frequently seen and brought before District Courts. The cases of a more serious nature on the other hand are typically presented in Assize Courts. The condition for cases being brought before the bigger court mainly involves two aspects. Either the article of theft is of a greater worth than normal or if there is a higher degree of breach of trust involved.
Similar to robbery charges, the Courts have the power to pass sentences for this crime. This is dependent upon the offender’s actions in the crime as well as his level of involvement.
The Court may discharge the sentence completely, or there would be a long trial involved with the offender being held in custody. It all depends on the seriousness of the charges.
The Court will also factor in the worth of the item of theft, the offender’s history of conviction, and other aggravating features of the offence.
Components Taken into Consideration Regarding Theft Sentencing
A great deal of significance by the Courts is placed upon the perspective of the victim who suffered due to theft. Their emotional and mental stress, the loss of sense of security, and their confidence are all impacted, not just the monetary loss.
A theft conviction is, by definition, a conviction for deception and has a harmful effect on the victim’s personality and future opportunities.
Robbery
According to Article 282 of the Cyprus Criminal Code (Cap. 154), Robbery is defined as:
“A person is guilty of robbery if he steals, and immediately before or at the time of doing so, and in order to do so, he uses force on any person or puts or seeks to put any person in fear of being then and there subjected to force.”
Robbery simply means a person with the intention of stealing, does so using violence or the threat of using physical force. The violence or threat of it is carried out against someone before, during or even immediately after the act of stealing. The person doing such an act will be guilty of robbery.
In a more simplified way, robbery is theft with the use or the threat of use of violence and force.
Depending upon the nature and scope of the criminal act, the Courts have various powers to sentence the convict. Life imprisonment is a possibility if the crime is of a serious disposition, and if it’s a minor offence, then charges may be dropped.
The Court takes into account a number of things before deciding upon a sentence. Namely, the worth of the robbed items, the offender’s criminal history, if they have any, and other volatile consequences of the offence.
You must consult a seasoned criminal lawyer for advice if you’re facing robbery charges. If the Court’s verdict is unfavourable, then the sentence could deprive you from seeing your family and friends for a really long time.
Your defence team will be making use of their veteran experience and foresight to strengthen your legal position. This will optimize your chances of winning. If it’s in your best interest to go to trial, then you will need a solid legal defence. This will be prepared by your defence attorney.
Alternatively, there could be a beneficial deal made with the Prosecution, in which you plead guilty. The defence lawyer will guide you and negotiate on your behalf to make sure you get a good outcome.
Declaration of Judgment for Robbery Offences
The robbery offences are broadly categorized by the involvement of the offender and the degree of preparation beforehand. Thereby, the offence of robbery is separated into three sections which are as follows:
- Street and Less Sophisticated Commercial Robbery is pretty self-explanatory. It is more or less a street crime without much thought or planning.
- Professionally Planned Commercial Robbery is a serious crime and is condemned by judges and juries alike. The punishment by the Courts for such crimes is severe.
- Robbery at a dwelling is another major offence carried out at people’s residences. It is also gravely punished by Courts.
The guidelines are consulted to gauge the offender’s scope of involvement, the loss and harm caused, as well as the level of sentencing that the Court can pass.
Our lawyers at Efstathios C. Efstathiou LLC will keep you informed of the developments in your case as they happen and provide assistance in understanding which category your case falls into.
Efstathios C. Efstathiou LLC – The Best Specialist Criminal Defence Law Firm in Cyprus
It is wise to have an expert legal defence team involved with you right from the beginning of your case. Defending against charges of theft and robbery often includes dealing with cell site tracking, which helps determine your location at the time of the offence.
Texts with context can give different meanings to messages in a conversation that otherwise might implicate you. Fingerprints and other evidence gathered by undercover officers also factor into these things.
There are times when negotiations are involved with the Prosecution, and it is really vital to have expert legal defence lawyers handle those. Their expertise will be more fruitful in ensuring a good deal becomes available rather than if you try to handle it yourself.
Efstathios C. Efstathiou LLC prides itself on providing the best expert legal counsel and representation throughout all of Cyprus.
If you ever find yourself unjustly facing an allegation of robbery or theft, please don’t hesitate to consult our helpline at the following number (+357) 22 755 177 for free of charge legal advice. You can also reach out to us by filling out a contact form.