Criminal trial begins for Larnaca abductor

The criminal trial in the Larnaca abduction case began on Monday, with suspect Yiorgos “George” Nicolaou facing charges of kidnapping and drugging two school boys.

Nicolaou was arrested on September 25, several hours after kidnapping two students at Kamares primary school in Larnaca. He was arraigned in early October behind closed doors, accused of coaxing two 11-year-old boys into following him to his apartment nearby the school where he spiked their lemonade, rendering them incoherent.

Eight hours following a massive search in Larnaca and elsewhere on the island, officers apprehended the 35-year-old suspect in his apartment where it turned out he was keeping the boys the whole time. The boys were found in the bedroom and were reportedly disoriented.

Nicolaou is currently facing four charges including kidnapping, abduction with the intent of false imprisonment, public intoxication, and wrongful imprisonment. Reports say he is not denying kidnapping and false imprisonment charges, but he says he did not drug the boys.

The hearing took place at the Larnaca District Court, where prosecutors were expected possibly to modify charges. Investigators in the case have not ruled out adding or dropping some of the charges, according to media reports.

Nicolaou will remain in prison until his next hearing on the not-guilty pleas, scheduled for January 2019.