On October 6, 2023, the Police received information that an adult was sexually abusing a minor on a deserted beach in Famagusta District. The persons were unknown to the Police Authorities and after days of continuous and coordinated actions by the YDYEP of the Police Headquarters and the ADE Famagusta, the Authorities ended up identifying the victim and the perpetrator who are Australian citizens and visited Cyprus for a few days vacation. The victim is 12 years old, while the perpetrator is 57 years old.
The members of the YDYEP immediately informed the Australian Liaison Officers' Association in Beirut, who immediately informed the Federal Police in Queensland, Australia, and after material was sent to them, they managed to identify the victim and the perpetrator. Within 24 hours the perpetrator was arrested by the Australian authorities and subsequently presented before a Court and faces a prison sentence of 25 years up to life, for offenses involving "sexual contact with a minor". The victim was moved from the place where he lived in Australia, in order to protect him, since according to the Australian investigators there is a biological relationship between the perpetrator and the victim.
Actions by the Australian Federal Police and the Cyprus Police are ongoing. It is considered one of the greatest successes of YDYEP and by extension the Cyprus Police, since the victim and perpetrator were unknown to the authorities and had left the territory of the Republic of Cyprus before the complaint was even made to the Cyprus Police. This case has taken on dimensions in Australia as well due to the success of the Authorities of the two states in saving the minor from the perpetrator.
The Police urge the public to co-operate with the Force and report any suspected child sexual abuse immediately and promptly. Any information received is evaluated and investigated confidentially and is treated confidentially by investigators.
