Giving the impression that tourists are above the law

My mother a lively 82-year -old , a prolific poet and artist who had a lot more to give to her 8 children 16 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren was killed on Saturday by a tourist who was driving on the opposite side of the road.  He also injured my father who is in a critical condition whilst also injuring a 5-year-old boy and a 23-year-old young girl.

The Tourist admitted causing death by reckless driving and will be sentenced, most likely this week and it is anticipated that the sentence will be a fine  on the payment of which he will be allowed to leave Cyprus. The main mitigating factor which as I am informed the court has taken into account in previous cases is that in his country they drive on that side of the road.

Where is the deterrent effect of such a sentence?

Would the sentence be heavier if the tourist was British, or  Japanese? Would the same treatment be afforded to a Cypriot who causes death in Italy?

There will remain a deep sense of injustice to the tens of relatives and the hundreds of friends of my mother if indeed the crime of causing such an untimely death is a monetary one which will give the impression that tourists are above the law and that they can kill, pay, and set free.

George Georgallis, Limassol

The Cyprus Mail is the only English-language daily newspaper published in Cyprus. It was established in 1945 and today, with its popular and widely-read website, the Cyprus Mail is among the most trusted news sites in Cyprus. The newspaper is not affiliated with any political parties and has always striven to maintain its independence. Over the past 70-plus years, the Cyprus Mail, with a small dedicated team, has covered momentous events in Cyprus’ modern history, chronicling the last gasps of British colonial rule, Cyprus’ truncated independence, the coup and Turkish invasion, and the decades of negotiations to stitch the divided island back together, plus a myriad of scandals, murders, and human interests stories that capture the island and its -people. Observers describe it as politically conservative.