A single father who left his 11-year-old daughter alone at home for two days so he could travel with Pafos FC to Albania for last night’s football match was arrested upon the delegation’s return this morning, and a case has already been filed against him before Paphos District Court.
The father was charged with abandonment of a child under 16, contrary to Articles 2 and 54 of the Children Law, Cap. 352, as amended.
The police representative told the court that between August 19 and 20, while he had care and control of his child, he abandoned her and exposed her to danger in a way that could have caused unnecessary harm to her health.
Following his arrest this morning, when the delegation returned to Paphos Airport, the father was taken directly to Paphos District Court, where the case was filed. His reappearance before the court was set for September 18, when he is due to answer the child abandonment charge. Until then, the court ordered his release on conditional bail, upon payment of 15,000 euros.
The arrested man was represented by lawyer Dr Artemis Savvidou, while prosecutor Matthaios Antoniou represented the prosecution.
As previously reported, the incident came to authorities’ attention yesterday, when neighbours of the family told police the girl appeared to have been alone and unsupervised at home since the previous day, Phileleftheros has learned. Officers from the Paphos Police Directorate who went to the scene found the 11-year-old at the house. She told them she was alone and that her father had left to watch Pafos FC’s European away match in Albania.
Police immediately informed Social Welfare Services, who took over the child’s protection and care.
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