Baby remains in critical condition, father remanded

The three-month-old baby hospitalised with shaken baby syndrome on Tuesday remains in critical condition at Nicosia’s Makarios hospital, Okypy spokesperson Charalambos Charilaou said on Wednesday.

Examinations carried out at the hospital revealed that the infant had sustained injuries consistent with shaken baby syndrome, including a cerebral haemorrhage, requiring urgent surgery shortly after admission.

The child was intubated and remains in intensive care unit for treatment.

Police on Tuesday arrested the baby’s 28-year-old father on charges of child abuse and causing grievous bodily harm.

Speaking to CyBC radio on Wednesday morning, police press officer Christodoulos Konsolos said evidence has been collected against the father.

He said previous offences on the father’s file will be considered during the police investigation.

He denied there had been any delay on the police’s part in arresting the father as they were only alerted by the hospital on Tuesday about the baby’s condition despite the fact he had been admitted on Friday.

He was taken to court on Wednesday morning, which issued a three day remand order against him.