Six people arrested and detained for illegal residency in Lefkosa

Six people, one from Pakistan, one from Liberia and 4 from Nigeria, were arrested for living illegally in the TRNC during police operation carried out in Lefkosa on Tuesday night. 

They were taken to court on Wednesday on charges of illegal residency.

Police officer who testified in court said one of the suspect named only as FN, 27, Nigerian, was detected by the Crime Prevention Branch teams on Şehit Ruso Street in Lefkosa at around 11:00pm on October 23, 2023, has been living illegally in the country for 2,765 days since March 28, 2016. 

The second suspect, MA, 21, a Pakistani had been living illegally in the TRNC for 158 days since March 22, 2023. Police said he had a work permit, but the investigation revealed that his statement was not true. The police stated that an investigation was launched into the pita shop where the suspect worked without permission. 

Police demanded that FN and MA be detained for 20 days as investigation on them has been completed.

The third suspect, JI, was was walking on a street in Lefkosai at around 1.20pm on October 23, 2023 when he was arrested. Police said he had been living illegally in the TRNC for 1,722 days since February 2, 2019. Police requested that he be sent to prison for a period not exceeding 20 days.

The fourth suspect, AAV had gone to the Lefkosa State Hospital when he was arrested. Police said he had been living illegally in the TRNC for 328 days since September 30, 2022. Police said investigation by the Ministry of Labor Immigration Department showed that he had no work permit. Police requested that he be sent to prison for a period not exceeding 15 days.

The fifth suspect, NA, 28, Nigerian, was detected on Martyr Mustafa Hacı Yusuf Street in Lefkosa and was found to have been living in the TRNC illegally for 888 days since May 19, 2021. Police requested that he be sent to prison for a period not exceeding 15 days.

The sixth suspect, GY, 36, a Liberian was arrested at around 3:00pm on October 21, 2023, on Martyr Mustafa Ahmet Ruso Street in Lefkosa. Police said he was found suspicious in the region by the Crime Prevention Branch personnel, was found to be living illegally in the TRNC for 676 days since October 14, 2021. The police requested that he be sent to prison for detention.

The judge who evaluated the testimony given before court, ordered that FN, MA, JI, GY be sent to prison for 20 days, while AAV and NA be sent to prison for a period not to exceed 15 days.