He had to resort to a daring kidnap to get his Mijah back – now Michael is the happiest dad in the world.
![Joy Of a Family Reunited](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/2448/180106/57b3facdc9e15/Joy-Of-a-Family-Reunited_1471694489.jpg)
HE HAS a huge smile as he sits on the couch in his home in Port Elizabeth, an arm around each of his daughters.
Michael Kliment will never take the simple joy of such an ordinary moment for granted again – not after the battle he’s had to get his younger daughter home.
At the end of June, desperate after being separated from Mijah for almost four years, Michael travelled to Slovakia and “kidnapped” her from outside her school.
Then they went on the run from Interpol for five weeks (YOU, 28 July).
They crossed the border into Hungary and spent weeks moving around Europe before a court finally decided Mijah belongs with her father in South Africa and not with his late ex-wife’s parents in Slovakia. Michael, a 43-year-old businessman, is ecstatic.
“I have both my daughters with me now – what more could a father want? The best part is waking up every morning with her here. There are 10 million teddy bears in her bedroom – there’s no space for her to sleep!”
Mijah has been home for only four days but it’s clear the energetic youngster has her dad and older sister, Mikaila (18), wrapped around her finger.
“When I walked in here this morning Mijah was curled up in Dad’s bed watching TV,” says Mikaila, Michael’s daughter from a previous relationship.
She travelled with her dad to Slovakia in June to “kidnap” her little sister. In our earlier article Mijah was referred to as Anja to protect her identity because the legal side of things hadn’t been sorted out yet.
Mijah is happy to be back in South Africa and to have reclaimed the pretty toy-filled bedroom she has in her dad’s seafront home.
This story is from the August 18, 2016 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 18, 2016 edition of YOU South Africa.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
![QUEEN OF THE COURT](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/xGdZnQzPC1718287703673/QUEEN-OF-THE-COURT.jpg)
QUEEN OF THE COURT
She's just won her fifth Grand Slam title and at 23 tennis star Iga Świątek is only getting started!
![WE'RE ON A MISSION TO HELP](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/KW564HPr91718284265040/WERE-ON-A-MISSION-TO-HELP.jpg)
WE'RE ON A MISSION TO HELP
The Olifants have started an ambulance service for animals from less fortunate communities
![BARBER TO THE BOKS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/WjQT4NVkz1718287557481/BARBER-TO-THE-BOKS.jpg)
BARBER TO THE BOKS
He's been cutting hair for almost 50 years. But it's the more than 40 jackets and signed jerseys from Springbok players whose hair he's done that make him a cut above the rest
![THE SCIENCE OF DEATH](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/bMDlgE0ry1718287157930/THE-SCIENCE-OF-DEATH.jpg)
THE SCIENCE OF DEATH
New research into the dying brain suggests the line between life and death may be far less distinct than previously thought
![WE TALK ABOUT Colombia's underwater treasure quest](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/fMj4LT2lQ1718286507883/WE-TALK-ABOUT-COLOMBIAS-UNDERWATER-TREASURE-QUEST.jpg)
WE TALK ABOUT Colombia's underwater treasure quest
COLOMBIA is launching a historic underwater expedition to explore a ship that sank in the Caribbean more than 300 years ago.
![UNFORGETTABLE READS](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/wcYEQQmrm1718286248131/UNFORGETTABLE-READS.jpg)
UNFORGETTABLE READS
These new releases all offer something surprising and unexpected
![CHILL out ON OUR RADAR](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/be_00KLl11718285765213/CHILL-OUT-ON-OUR-RADAR.jpg)
CHILL out ON OUR RADAR
The HOTTEST things in POP CULTURE and ENTERTAINMENT THIS WEEK
![EAT YOUR FILL](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/6Le2NWT1r1718284646934/EAT-YOUR-FILL.jpg)
EAT YOUR FILL
Trying to lose weight? Stock up on the foods that trigger the release of the same 'fullness' hormone as the weight-loss drug Ozempic
![ROMANTIC RUPERT](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/VEgrH6HGH1718283913313/ROMANTIC-RUPERT.jpg)
ROMANTIC RUPERT
Retired media tycoon Rupert Murdoch is a sucker for love and at 93 he's got married - again!
![RUNNING STRONG](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/2448/1730732/x51zmyjLY1718283154946/RUNNING-STRONG.jpg)
RUNNING STRONG
This Roodepoort mom has lost half her body weight - and she's just done her second Comrades