Man who picked a lost phone in Lefkosia found to be living in north Cyprus without a residence permit

A Turkish national who was arrested for stealing a phone he found on the ground in Lefkosia was found to be living in north Cyprus illegally.

The suspect, MA was identified in Lefkosia on April 19, 2024 and arrested. He was taken to court on Saturday, April, 20 on charges of stealing and staying in the TRNC without a residence permit.

Police told the court that the suspect picked the mobile phone worth 6,000 TL after it was dropped by a person on Kemal Aksay Street in Lefkosia on April 9, 2024.

The suspect was identified and arrested on April 19, 2024.

Police stated that an investigation was launched, and during the immigration check, it was determined that the suspect entered the country with a 15-day tourist visa on January 28, 2024, but continued to stay in the country illegally as of February 2, 2024, after the permit expired.

The police noted that the stolen phone had not yet been found and that the investigation was continuing, and requested that the suspect be detained for 3 days.