Court confirms paternity in case involving Sandy

In 2012, a woman referred to as Sandy filed an application with the Nicosia Family Court seeking legal recognition of the biological father of her child, born out of wedlock in 2010. The first-instance court ruled in her favor, based on the credibility of the testimonies provided by Sandy and her mother. The respondent appealed the decision, disputing the findings. However, the appellate court rejected all grounds of appeal and upheld the initial ruling. A key factor in the appellate decision was the respondent's refusal to undergo a DNA test, despite a formal court order. Notably, one of the three judges on the appellate panel was Michalis Christodoulou, who later became a subject of public interest regarding his subsequent interactions with the woman. Reports indicate that investigators looking into a separate matter noted that records from the Nicosia District Administration show Sandy has only one child, attributed to the father identified in the court proceedings, contradicting other public rumors. Christodoulou has stated in police testimony that he met Sandy in 2020, approximately a year after the appellate hearing.