Deputy chief of police Panikos Stavrou has ordered an administrative investigation into a complaint filed by a mother that her infant had been abused at a daycare centre in Limassol and press reports over the way the police had handled the case.

The police said the investigation was ordered at the suggestion of Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis.

The mother had told media that on February 21 she had been called to the centre to pick up her child after it had hurt itself when it allegedly fell out of its bed.

The woman went to the centre, accompanied by her husband and their paediatrician, and found the child “covered in blood”.

According to the mother’s statements, the centre’s administration informed them that the 13-month-old child was in its bed, stepped on a toy and fell, as the safety bar was not in place, an explanation the mother questioned.

The child was taken to hospital and admitted for treatment.

According to the mother, the child was bruised and had cuts on the forehead, nose and mouth, while the tongue bridle had been severed and there was a bump on the back of the child’s head.

The mother also said that her husband had reported the incident to the police, however a police officer allegedly said the child probably did fall out of bed and did not believe anything else had happened.

The police officer visited the centre and said the child had indeed fallen out of bed, according to the mother.

On February 24, the mother visited the welfare office to report the incident and there she was told to file an official complaint.

The mother said she called the police and was told to go on the next day so that the police officer who had investigated the case could be present, however when she got there she was informed that the officer was absent.

She then went back to the welfare office and returned to the police station accompanied by welfare officers to give a statement.

After that, the mother said she has been kept in the dark, despite her insistence to be informed about the case.