The Court of Appeal has overturned a lower court ruling and ordered the detention until trial of a 46-year-old father and his two adult children, aged 23 and 21, who face a total of 122 charges over serious violence and abuse offences against the family’s minor children.
At the same time, police today re-released the details and photographs of three minors from the family who remain missing.
Sarra Esaifan, 17, from Palestine, has been missing from the family’s residence in Aglantzia, Nicosia district, since June 30, 2026. She is described as 1.62 metres tall, of normal build, with black hair. When she left, she was wearing knee-length blue shorts, a grey vest, a black jacket and black and white trainers.
Kawtar Esaifan, 14, is described as approximately 1.60 metres tall, of normal build, with medium-length black hair. When she left, she was wearing knee-length blue shorts, a grey vest and white trainers.
Anyone with information that could help locate them is asked to contact Nicosia CID on 22-802222, their nearest police station, or the Citizen’s Line on 1460.
Police are also seeking information to help locate Ahlam Esaifan, 15, from Palestine, who has been missing from her home in Famagusta district since June 30, 2026. She is described as approximately 1.60 metres tall, dark-skinned, with brown eyes and long, curly brown hair. Anyone with information is asked to contact Famagusta CID on 23-803040, their nearest police station, or the citizen’s hotline on 1460.
The Court of Appeal accepted appeals filed by the Attorney General and overturned a ruling by Famagusta District Court, ordering the detention until trial of three members of the same family who face a total of 122 charges over serious offences of violence, abuse and mistreatment against the family’s children.
The court found that the lower court had wrongly released the defendants on conditional bail, ruling there was a real risk of flight given the seriousness of the charges and potential lengthy sentences, a risk of witness interference, particularly after indications of an attempt to influence a minor complainant, and, for two of the three defendants, a risk of repeat offending.
The court noted that although the defendants have lived in Cyprus for 20 years as recognised refugees, are employed and have no criminal record, these factors were not sufficient to outweigh the seriousness of the case and the risks identified.
As a result, the bail terms and restrictive orders previously imposed were cancelled, and the court ordered their detention until the start of the trial on July 16, 2026, before the Permanent Assize Court of Famagusta.
The three defendants face a total of 122 charges over serious offences alleged to have been committed against the family’s children between 2013 and May 2026. The charges include systematic physical and psychological abuse, child mistreatment, abduction, indecent assault, sexual harassment, attempted sexual abuse of a child, causing bodily harm, threats, common assault and degrading treatment.
According to the indictment, the minor children are alleged to have lived for years in dire conditions, facing violence, food deprivation and restriction of their freedom.
The defendants are the 46-year-old father, his 23-year-old daughter and his 21-year-old son, who are remanded in custody.
Meanwhile, in a separate case, police are seeking Alina Vaduva, 15½, from Romania, who has been missing from her residence in Egkomi, Nicosia district, since 1am on July 1, 2026. She is described as approximately 1.60 metres tall, of normal build, with long red hair. When she left, she was wearing leopard-print pyjama loungewear and a black tank top.
Anyone with information that could help locate her is asked to contact Nicosia CID on 22-802222 or their nearest police station.