Limassol couple charged with abandonment

THE LIMASSOL couple who disappeared for 48 hours without telling their underage child where they’d gone, have been charged with abandonment of a minor, police said.

Loizos Ioannides, 47, and Marianna Ivan Ioannides, 38, were tracked down on Tuesday morning at a local hotel “sorting out their marital differences”.

Having switched off their phones, they were oblivious to the fact that their families had been frantically trying to get through to them and that police had sent out search teams after they were reported missing on Sunday night.

“They have been charged with abandonment of a child under 16 and with neglecting responsibilities as the heads of a family with a minor under 14,” Limassol police said.

Both charges carry a sentence of up to one year imprisonment and/or a fine of €1708.60 to €3417.20, police said. Nevertheless is unlikely either one will be imprisoned over the incident.

Police told the Cyprus Mail the couple had left their 10-year-old son with their 17-year-old daughter.

“Although the daughter was technically old enough to look after the 10-year-old, the fact that they left without telling their young child where they were going, the fact that he was caused undue stress over this ordeal, that no one knew where they were – not even the daughter – and that the police were out looking for them while they were in a hotel, is completely irresponsible.

“They may have acted totally innocently but the fact that they switched off their mobile phones is inexcusable,” an officer who wished to remain unnamed said.

The couple were charged in writing and released to be called at a later date, police said.
Limassol’s minor crimes unit is investigating.
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