Man enrolls in north Cyprus university without a diploma

A man who in an attempt to make his stay in north Cyprus legal was found to have registered into a university without having a high school diploma.

The suspects, ZSA, a Pakistani national was on Monday brought before the Lefkosia district court on charges of "preparing false documents" and "obtaining money by fraud".

Police in a court statement said the suspect was arrested for preparing a fake preliminary permit document and fraudulently obtaining 10,000 euros from one SRS, 34, a resident of Gönyeli, whom he had known since 2023 with the promise of obtaining a preliminary permit for his relatives abroad.

He then sent the fake preliminary permit applications to SRS via WhatsApp for use. He was arrested upon a complaint made on February 29, 2024.

Police said the suspect stated in his statement that he had been on the island with a work permit for 4 years, but since his work permit expired this year, he paid 1000 euros and enrolled in a university, even though he did not have a high school diploma, in order to avoid becoming an illegal resident.

Police said that during a check from the immigration office, it was determined that the suspect had a legal student permit. 

Police said investigation will continue in this direction and that other crimes may also be revealed, and requested that the suspect be detained for 2 more days.