A secondary school teacher was remanded in custody for eight days by Larnaca district court on Monday as police investigate a complaint he sexually abused an underage female pupil.

The hearing was held behind closed doors.

Meanwhile, the education ministry has asked the education service commission to place the teacher under suspension, minister Prodromos Prodromou said.

“From the moment that we had some conclusion from the police we have asked the education service commission to suspend (the teacher). The procedure provided for will of course be adhered to,” he told reporters.

Earlier on Monday, police spokesman Christos Andreou said the man was arrested on Sunday evening following a complaint filed last week. Andreou would not elaborate, saying he could not give any information that could reveal the identity of the suspect or the complainant.

According to reports, the pupil is a 14-year-old girl and the incident occurred during class at her secondary school in the Larnaca district. The incident was made public last week through a social media post by Diko MP Christos Orphanides who called on the education ministry to take all necessary action to investigate.

Andreou told the Cyprus New Agency that the complaint was made last week and on Saturday police took a statement from the minor. After evaluating the statement, late on Sunday police made one arrest. The individual is due in Larnaca district court today for a remand hearing that will be held behind closed doors, he added.

Andreou said that the law defines harassment of minors as sexual abuse. “The complaint we are currently investigating concerns sexual abuse of an underage individual.”

He said cases concerning minors such as this one are very sensitive and require special handling. Statements must be taken at a time and place where the minors feel comfortable, while there is a special procedure which specific type of questions, he added.

There is a special unit that investigate cases concerning vulnerable groups with specially trained personnel.