Baby held after illegal adoption

Baby held after illegal adoption

A Larnaca gynaecologist, 48, and four other people – two couples – were remanded in custody for two days on Saturday in connection with the illegal adoption of a newborn baby that allegedly involved paying its parents €10,000.

Police said they arrested the child’s biological parents, a Bulgarian couple, and the Famagusta couple who wanted to adopt the baby.

The would-be adoptive mother is the doctor’s cousin, reports said.

It all started in April this year when the Bulgarian woman, 38, visited the doctor wanting to have an abortion.

The gynaecologist allegedly advised her to keep the baby and that he would assume the cost.

On top of that, the court heard that the adoptive couple had agreed to pay the mother €10,000.

The mother allegedly agreed. She gave birth to a boy on Wednesday and left the clinic on Friday without the baby, who was going to be handed over to the 41-year-old adoptive mother.

Acting on a tip, police arrested the mother and her husband in Nicosia. They allegedly found €5,000 in their possession and €5,000 more in the possession of the adoptive parents.

The latter claimed the money was meant to pay the cost of the clinic and the lawyer handling the adoption, reports said.

The doctor was arrested at his clinic. He claimed the adoption documents had been submitted by the adoptive parents.

The child and the adoptive mother were located at the clinic.

She told officers that she was going to adopt the child, whom they named Alexandros.

Her husband was arrested at the home at 1am on Saturday morning. In the house, police found a pram, bottles, a sterilisation system and child car seats.

A social worker confirmed that the couple had submitted an application, which was still being processed however, and it would take around a month to complete.

When the adoptive mother informed her that the child was born, the social worker advised that under no circumstances must they take a child without a court order and warned them that no money must be paid.

The state official also said that the biological mother was not allowed to abandon the baby at the clinic before the court order was issued.

Their defence told the court on Saturday that no adoption had taken place – the child was just staying at a home legally until all the necessary arrangements were carried out.

The lawyer claimed that no money had been paid for an adoption.

Before the announcement of the court’s decision, the mother said she wanted her child back.

She said she has two more children in Bulgaria while her partner also had one.

She was told that she had every right to ask for her child through the proper legal procedures.

The baby is being looked after by the welfare office at Larnaca general hospital.