A 26-year-old man accused of a child abduction was arrested in occupied Famagusta after allegedly taking his son from the child’s mother and crossing illegally into the free areas.
According to statements by the Turkish Cypriot “police”, the suspect was located together with the child in occupied Famagusta.
The 26-year-old was arrested over alleged offences including “secret entry and violation of a military forbidden zone” as well as “leaving the TRNC without permission from the competent authorities”.
Authorities said the child will remain temporarily with his grandmother, the suspect’s mother, following a decision by the “social services department”.
Request sent for father’s handover
A request had earlier been sent to the Turkish Cypriot side seeking the handover of the father, who is of Turkish origin, through the bicommunal office of the Technical Committee on Crime and Criminal Matters.
Earlier on Friday, a court issued an eight-day detention order against a 53-year-old Turkish Cypriot man arrested in Larnaca in connection with the case.
He is being investigated for serious offences, including conspiracy to commit a felony, child abduction, causing grievous bodily harm, illegal entry into private property and assault causing actual bodily harm.
Police said the 53-year-old was located in Larnaca on Wednesday night and arrested under a court warrant before being transferred to Limassol police headquarters, where he remains in custody.
Mother reported violent abduction
According to Assistant Limassol Police Director Lefteris Kyriakou, the incident unfolded on Wednesday morning at the mother’s home in a Limassol district community.
The 35-year-old mother reported that the father entered the house with another individual and violently seized the child before fleeing the scene.
Investigations later indicated that the suspect returned to the occupied areas after the incident.
Also read: Child abduction: New video from Turkish father claims “he missed his father”
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