A 47-year-old from Syria, suspected of the homicide of the three-year-old girl who passed away early this morning at Makarios Hospital, and of human trafficking involving migrants found yesterday in dire conditions on a boat adrift off Cape Greco, has been placed under an eight-day detention.
Presently, the sister of the deceased girl, as well as another child, aged 3 and 5, are in critical condition at Makarios Hospital.
Three more children are in serious condition at Famagusta Hospital, while another child is being treated at Larnaca Hospital.
Additionally, four adults with leg fractures are receiving medical care.
Besides the charge of homicide, the 47-year-old is suspected of conspiracy to commit a crime and offenses related to the trafficking of migrants.
As revealed by philenews, the 47-year-old had previously come to Cyprus two years ago and applied for political asylum.
However, he later traveled to Lebanon, and it is being investigated whether he joined a network of traffickers bringing migrants to Cyprus.
The fatal journey began on January 18 from Lebanon to Cyprus.
Police examinations indicated that the boat started without a compass, GPS, and other navigation tools and with insufficient fuel.
Midway through the journey, according to the migrants’ testimonies, the engine failed, and the boat was left adrift.
The migrants stated that they had water but no food.
The water they had with them indicated it came from Lebanon, and they were instructed to throw it into the sea when they saw a commercial vessel approaching, which they believed was a Cypriot police vessel.
Cypriot authorities were informed about the disappearance of the boat on January 20.
The information was relayed to the police by a person informed by their relatives in Cyprus.
Search operations were conducted in the area from the first moment, but the boat was not located.
