Three family members deny 122 charges involving alleged abuse of minors
A father and his two adult children pleaded not guilty before the Famagusta permanent criminal court to 122 charges involving alleged abuse of minor family members.
Famagusta, Cyprus. A 46-year-old father and his adult daughter and son pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to 122 charges involving the alleged abuse of minor children in their family. The Famagusta permanent criminal court ordered all three defendants to remain in custody until the hearing begins on November 18.
Charges and closed hearing
The defendants are the father, his 23-year-old daughter and his 21-year-old son.
The charges concern alleged offences committed between 2013 and May 2026. They include systematic physical and psychological abuse, child abuse, kidnapping, indecent assault, sexual harassment, attempted sexual abuse of a child and degrading treatment.
The prosecution requested that the proceedings be held entirely behind closed doors because the victims are minors and are expected to testify. The defence did not object, and the court accepted the request.
Allegations cited in court documents
According to the indictment and evidence cited in an earlier court of appeal decision, the children lived for years in poor conditions amid claims of physical violence, food deprivation, confinement and restrictions on their freedom.
The allegations include claims that the father beat some of the children with a belt and kept the refrigerator and food in a locked room, preventing them from accessing it. The children were also allegedly made to sleep on the floor.
Reports from neighbours and teachers were cited as evidence. According to the material presented, the children sometimes arrived at school with injuries, dirty clothing and hungry.
Teachers provided them with food, while one teacher reportedly took food to the family home.
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