State takes kids away from two mothers

Three children have been placed in state foster care when a 13-year-old boy called police after midnight on Christmas Day to say he was left alone to babysit.

According to media reports, the boy dialed the emergency number on Wednesday at 1am and told police officers that his mother had left him in charge of his little brother, aged 10, and another 6-year-old boy.

The two women, aged 34 and 37 from Ukraine and Latvia, were initially arrested on Wednesday. They later appeared before a Limassol District court judge on Thursday, where they were asked to surrender their traveling documents.

While no details regarding the hearing or the circumstances of the incident were made available, police told Knews the two women were released on bail and ordered to report to their local police station on a frequent basis.

Their children will remain in state custody while authorities are said to be investigating allegations of child neglect and domestic violence, based on statements the early teen made according to unconfirmed local reports.