Filipina adoption go-between to stand trial

A woman from the Philippines, who acted as a go-between in a gay couple child adoption, will stand criminal trial facing multiple charges including trafficking of minors.

The 47-year-old woman, who has been in police custody since January 17, appeared before a Nicosia District Judge on Friday and was ordered to stand trial later this month.

She is being accused of taking part in an illegal adoption of a child from the Philippines, with two men in Cyprus as the adoptive parents. Back in 2017, she reportedly brought the infant and registered herself as the mother along with one of the suspects, described as a Greek Cypriot man.

The biological mother of the child, who lives in the Philippines, had been receiving financial support from the two men until the birth of her child, while it was reported that she had decided to give the baby up for adoption.

The gay couple reportedly sent monthly payments to the biological mother in the Philippines until the birth of the baby, while unconfirmed reports said they made previous adoption attempts that failed, as gay adoption is not legal in the Republic of Cyprus.

The Filipina in custody denies taking any money for her mediation services while Cypriot authorities are looking into possible involvement by an employment agency, which allegedly advised the two men on the procedure to adopt a child.

The suspect, who had travelled to Cyprus on a work visa to become a housemaid for the father of the Greek Cypriot man, is believed to have taken the child from the biological mother in the Philippines and delivered it to its adoptive parents in Cyprus.

But it is not clear whether Cypriot authorities are charging her with kidnapping, as the biological mother in the Philippines had used the suspect’s name at the hospital when she went to give birth.

Three suspects have been named in the case, the Filipina, the Greek Cypriot man, and his husband who got married to him in New Zealand. Both men are still wanted by Cyprus police and at least one of them holds a Cypriot passport. The identity of the other man has been reported in local media as either Turkish, Turkish Cypriot, or person of Turkish origin, while they are both believed to be overseas after having gone on vacation. 

Charges include conspiracy to commit felony, trafficking of minors, document forgery and fraud, and perjury.

No information about bail was made available to the media. The woman will remain behind bars until her criminal trial which is set to begin on February 27.