Trial of suspected child molester postponed

A Paphos court on Thursday postponed to November 30 the start of the trial of a 54-year-old man, accused of sexually harassing his niece, 12.

The trial had been scheduled to begin Thursday, but appearing in court the 54-year-old requested a change of lawyer.

The court ordered that he remain in custody until November 30, the new date for the hearings.

The incident allegedly happened during the first week of November in the Mouttalos suburb of Paphos, according to the girl’s family.

The suspect denied the accusations, claiming he had always treated the girl, his sister’s daughter, with fatherly affection and not in a lewd manner.

The girl had been examined by a state pathologist who did not find any external injuries.