Court awards custody to
French-born mother written by MaltaMedia
News - 6 Mar, 2002
Little Berenger and Emilie Grecula on
Wednesday came much closer to a return home with their French-born mother in the United
States after a Maltese court ruled in favour of their mother retaining custody and care of
the two children.  Mr. Justice Raymond Pace on Wednesday ruled that Monique Grecula can take her
two children back to the United States "in the supreme interest of the minors"
after they were illegally abducted and brought them to Malta by their father Ronald, from
whom she had separated earlier.
"We expect her husband to file for an appeal. Given the urgency of the case, the
court decided to allow only six days, instead of the standard 20, for the appeal to be
presented," Dr. Aron Mifsud Bonnici, counsel to Mrs Grecula, told MaltaMedia a few
moments after the court delivered its decision.
The court presided by Judge Pace had already awarded sole custody to Mrs Grecula last week
after she had successfully filed an application for provisional care and custody. The
mother claims that her ex-husband, Ronald Grecula had violated the terms of a custody
order for the children - 10-year-old Berenger and three-year-old Emilie - issued by a
Pennsylvania Court on the 26th of October 2000. She says that Mr. Grecula fled the United
States with the children the following November. The US Court has since revoked his access
rights and has found the father to be in contempt of court.
Monique Grecula's lawyer says that she spent months in the dark about her children's fate.
"In the 15 months since, he never contacted my client again ... He never gave her any
indication as to the whereabouts and well-being of her 2 and 10-year old children,"
Dr. Mifsud Bonnici said.
 Mrs Grecula claims that her husband is a fugitive in the United
States. An FBI warrant for Unlawful Flight to Avoid Prosecution was issued for Ronald
Allen Grecula (right) on December 19, 2000.
The Times on Tuesday printed a report on Mr. Grecula's version of facts according to the
please he filed in court. He claims that he was the Court had given him only
one-and-a-half hours to file his note of pleas before awarding temporary custody to his
wife.
Furthermore, he claims that the claims of his wife in court were made up of inflated
accusations and half-truths. He also pledged to regularise his position with the U.S.
authorities.
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