Newsroom
The fire department was placed on high alert after a fire erupted in a livestock unit in the Larnaca district at 12:30 a.m. on Monday, March 31. The property is owned by the 48-year-old male individual who was apprehended alongside his spouse for the alleged mistreatment of their five children.
Andreas Kettis, spokesperson for the fire department, explained that the building was also being used as a home storage unit, with household items, waste materials, and electrical appliances inside. Firefighters were able to control the blaze using water hoses and breathing apparatus. It's important to note that no one had been living there recently.
The fire caused damage to the machinery, and an investigation is currently underway to determine the cause.
The chain of events that uncovered the children's suffering started when a report of child abuse was made to the Family Violence Unit of the Larnaca Police Department, with claims that the children's five siblings and their parents were the abusers.
One of the girls reportedly disclosed the situation to her teacher at school, who then reported the case to the Family Violence Bureau of the police. This led to an investigation that culminated in the arrest of the two individuals.
According to the police report, the older daughter reported repeated sexual abuse by the 48-year-old man, which had begun approximately ten years before.
The allegations suggest that the suspect used threats and violence to force all five children to work in the fields and livestock sheds.
The case was forwarded to the Larnaca Criminal Court, where the two suspects are facing charges of child trafficking, labor exploitation of both adults and minors, sexual abuse, and domestic violence.
A hearing has been scheduled for May 5th; meanwhile, both suspects will remain in custody.
