I was brought from Turkiye and deceived with a work permit: Man arrested for illegal residency tells court

A man who was brought from Turkey to North Cyprus by an individual has been arrested and detained for living in the country without a resident permit.

The suspect named only as İ.N., was brought to a court in Lefkosia on Wednesday after he was found to be living in the north of Cyprus without a residence permit.

Speaking in court, police said that the suspect was detected at the Lefkcosia Police Immigration Branch, where he came on Tuesday to obtain an "entry-exit" document.

Police said that during the immigration check, it was determined that the suspect entered the country on October 2, 2023 with a 30-day visa, but after the visa expired, it was determined that he had been staying in the north of Cyprus without a residence permit for 153 days since November 2, 2023.

Police stated that the suspect worked with a person named GK while he was living illegally in the country and that an investigation would be launched regarding this.

Speaking in court, the suspect said that he was deceived.

The suspect said, “GK brought me from Turkey to work. "I started the work permit procedures," he said. I worked for him for 3 months, but he kept me busy all the time. I left my job when I didn't get a work permit. I started staying with my brother. I have been unemployed and broke for the last 2 months. "I couldn't leave the country because I will be punished, otherwise I wouldn't be able to come back," he said.

The suspect continued his statement as follows:

“The other day, GK called me and told me that my work permit had been issued. I went to him and he made me sign a document. He told me to go to the police to get an entry-exit document and come. When I went to the police, I was arrested. Not only me, but two other people were victimized in this way. They were fined and left the country with visa debt. But I want to stay.”

Evaluating the testimony given in court, the judge stated that the crime of residence permit is a crime that carries a prison sentence of up to 6 months and is becoming more common day by day, and ordered the suspect to be sent to prison for a period not exceeding 20 days.

The judge ordered a police investigation into the workplace where the suspect worked without permission for 3 months.