The third complaint of alleged infant abuse by a nanny has prompted the police to reopen the files of all three cases for further examination.
The Police Chief instructed the Nicosia CID to review all the cases to determine if there are gaps to be filled or if further action is necessary. Despite initial investigations into all three cases, insufficient evidence was found.
Described as challenging cases, they involve infants unable to provide their own version, and the injuries they sustained could not be precisely determined during medical examinations.
All three cases are currently under scrutiny to decide if additional measures are needed to verify the cause of the infants’ injuries and marks.
Medical professionals will reevaluate the cases to identify the reasons behind the children’s injuries.
According to the Police Spokesperson Christos Andreou, three ongoing cases involve allegations of infant abuse by a caregiver.
A special investigative team has been formed to reexamine the incidents, reach out to parents, especially those unwilling to testify initially and contact other individuals who may have information but haven’t reported anything to the Police or Social Welfare Services.
Andreou highlighted the objective difficulties in investigating such allegations, especially concerning infants who cannot communicate details about what happened.
He stressed the importance of credible testimonies and conclusive evidence, as these cases involve potential criminal charges.
In the ongoing investigation, two infants have been examined by government doctors, and the focus is now on determining whether the injuries were intentionally inflicted, the result of caregiver negligence, or unforeseeable accidents.
Furthermore, the professional licensing of the caregiver is also under investigation, with the Police exploring whether the caregiver had the necessary authorization.
The caregiver had reportedly applied for a license in 2022, but it appears that it hadn’t been granted.
The Deputy Minister of Social Welfare, Marilena Evangelou, has called for a report on the matter by the upcoming Monday.
