Man arrested for illegal residency in TRNC tells court that there will be amnesty in 1-2 weeks time

A Turkish national who was arrested and taken to court for living in the TRNC illegally shocked the court when he said there will be amnesty in two weeks time and he intends to apply for it.

Three foreign nationals named only as GCO, a Nigerian, BSN, a Nigerian and EK, a Tukish citizen who were identified and arrested during a routine raid by the police in Lefkosa for living in the TRNC illegally without a resident permit on Wednesday were taken to court on Thursday.

Speaking in court, police prosecutor said immigration checks carried out on the suspects showed that; GCO has been living illegally in the country for 880 days since June 11, 2021; BSN had been living in illegally in the TRNC for 368 days since November 5, 2022, and EK had been living illegally in the country for, 2,510 days since December 24, 2016.

Police stated that the suspects GCO and BSN did not have any ties in the country, and that EK had a daughter who was studying in a high school in the country.

The police officer stated that the investigation against the suspects was completed and requested that they be sent to prison for a period not exceeding 20 days.

One of the suspects, EK, who spoke in court after the police, stated that his daughter was in the country and said, “Give me the opportunity, an amnesty will be issued in a week or two. "I will have my procedures done when the amnesty is granted".

The lawyer of the other two suspects said that their clients were registered as students, but they did not have their immigration procedures completed.

The judge who evaluated the testimony given in court, decided to send the suspects to prison for a period not exceeding 20 days, and pointed out that they could carry out immigration procedures if they wish within this period.

***Currently, we are not aware of any amnesty for students. The only amnesty spoken about by the government is work amnesty for illegal and undeclared workers and the date has not been announced yet.