Two Zim students found sleeping in the streets of north Cyprus detained for one month

One of two Zimbabwean students who were found sleeping in the streets of North Cyprus were found to have been illegally living in the country for more than seven years.

Two students, the first identified only as HTZ and the second identified only as FK who are foreign students in the TRNC were found sleeping on a sidewalk next to a bus stop in Lefkosa on the afternoon of Friday, June, 16.

Police said they were found by a patrol team on  Şht Mustafa Ahmet Ruso Street in Küçük Kaymaklı, Lefkosia near Çangar auto gallery. when warned to get up, they stood up and made random "hand gestures" at the police leading to their arrest. 

They were taken to court on charges of “Residing without a Residence Permit in the TRNC” and Inappropriate Movement; and "Improper behavior".

During immigration checks, it was found that the suspect, HTZ had been living in the TRNC illegally for 2,646 days since March, 2016 while the other suspect, FK was found to have been living illegally in the TRNC for 993 days.

The police demanded that the suspects be sent to prison for investigation purposes, for a period not exceeding one month.