Newsroom
A deeply disturbing case involving the prolonged abuse of five children in the Larnaca district has entered a critical phase, with both parents formally acknowledging their guilt before the Criminal Court. The case, which first became public in March 2025 and shocked Cypriot society, is being heard behind closed doors to safeguard the minor victims.
The abuse came to light on 29 March 2025, when one of the children disclosed their experiences to a teacher, prompting immediate intervention and an investigation by the authorities. What followed was the uncovering of years of severe mistreatment within the family home, spanning an estimated period of 15 years.
Seven months after the initial revelation, proceedings commenced before the Permanent Criminal Court of Larnaca. During the hearing, both defendants accepted responsibility for a substantial portion of the charges filed against them. These include serious criminal offenses such as the forced labor of minors, the infliction of significant psychological trauma, and physical assault resulting in bodily harm.
The male defendant, aged 48 and identified as the stepfather of one of the underage girls, also admitted to an additional charge of sexually abusing a minor.
As details emerged through investigative reporting, public reaction intensified. Information indicated that people within the family’s broader social circle were aware of troubling conditions in the household. In some instances, anonymous reports had been submitted to authorities, yet the children were not removed from the environment until much later.
Testimony further revealed that the children were made to work on agricultural land owned by the father. Local residents described the family as socially withdrawn, with the children frequently appearing fearful.
The gravity of the case was compounded by a separate incident that occurred shortly after the abuse became public, when the livestock facility operated by the accused was destroyed by fire.
Due to the sensitive nature of the proceedings and the ages of the victims, the trial is being conducted in private. The court is scheduled to reconvene on 30 January 2026. Authorities have described the case as one of the most serious child abuse prosecutions in Cyprus in recent years.
