Limassol, Cyprus. A two-year-old child abducted from Limassol has been placed under ‘state’ protection in the north, as Greek Cypriot authorities await information on whether the child’s father will be handed over.
Abduction and detention
The child was taken last week from the home of his British mother by his father, a Turkish national, who later crossed back into the north with the child, reportedly via an unmanned area at the British base in Dhekelia.
The father is being held under a three-day detention order in the north after being located and arrested in Famagusta for “illegally entering into a military restricted zone”.
Greek Cypriot investigation and warrants
Speaking on Alpha TV, Limassol CID spokesperson Erika Kavazi said investigators are monitoring developments and are waiting for formal communication via the bicommunal Technical Committee for Crime regarding possible transfer arrangements to the government-controlled areas.
Authorities said two arrest warrants are pending against the 26-year-old, one linked to a domestic violence case and a second relating to the abduction of the child.
A 53-year-old Turkish Cypriot, alleged to have abetted in the abduction, is also in custody in connection with the case.
‘State protection’ and child welfare
The north’s labour ‘minister’ Oguzhan Hasipoglu said in a written statement that the child is now under “state protection” following intervention by social services.
He said the process was handled “with the child’s best interests as the guiding principle” and that specialist teams acted after assessment procedures, adding that the child is of sound health and that medical checks have been completed.
Ongoing inquiry
The case remains under investigation by CID.
What information will authorities provide about any potential transfer of the father and child to the government-controlled areas?