8 Africans arrested for stealing 24, million TL from a North Cyprus bank

Seven African were arrested in Lefke this week for hacking into a local bank system and stole 24 million TL from a bank located in Lekfe.

Five of the seven-member gang were arrested on Tuesday, Nov., 28, 2023 and taken to the Guzelyurt district court on charges of theft. The other two were taken to court on Wednesday, Nov., 29.

According to report, the; The 'African gang' as they are called broke into the international money transfer system of a Lefke bank between 29 September and 17 November where they transferred the money from the bank to other accounts and also stole the money in existing personal accounts.  

Fiscal Branch teams took action upon the complaint and, as a result of their investigation, they then identified and arrested five suspects; ASA, 23, ABA, 24, JM, 20, a female, TNMN, 23 and P.F, 25.

The suspects, all of whom are African, were brought to court in Güzelyurt on Tuesday where a 2-day detention order was issued against them.

Expanding their investigation, the police caught 2 more people on Wednesday evening and seized the suspects' mobile phones and computers. 

Eight foreigners who were accused of stealing 24 million TL from a bank in Lefke were detained for another 7 days on Friday.

The suspects were taken to a court in Lefke on Friday for the second time.
Police said they are looking for 20 more people who are connected to the issue.

According to report, the incident caused great outrage in the country, making bank customers are worried.

Police said the suspects managed to remotely access the system of the Lefke bank branch and stole 24 million liras.