Suspect arrested in connection with the murder of Turkish Cypriot woman in North Cyprus complains of food and inhumane prison condition as detention period extended

The detention period of the two men who were arrested in connection with the murder of a Turkish Cypriot woman in Lefkosia on Friday last week were extended on Tuesday as they complained about the food and living condition in detention.

The body of, Ayça Alav, 45, was discovered at her place of work named HİT BİT, a crypto exchange company located on Mevlevi Tekke Street in the Lefkosia city center, at around 9:00pm on Friday, Dec., 22. It was revealed that she was murdered by two men who are currently on the run.

Police stated that an autopsy was performed on Alav on December 23, 2023, and the cause of death was determined to be mouth-nose closure, asphyxia and neck compression.

Two men, F.L.D, 31, a Cameroonian and S.H, 31, a Pakistan national, were later identified and arrested in connection with the murder. They were taken to court for aiding and abetting of murder. They detained for 3 days by the court on Saturday. 

They were brought back to court again on Tuesday.

Police said the suspects went to Alav Döviz, which operates nearby, and stole an undetermined amount of foreign currency and TL. The murder suspects then left the scene, went to Ercan Airport to escape to Southern Cyprus with the help of F.L.W.D and S.H for 50 euros respectively.

Speaking in court on Tuesday, the lawyer representing F.L.W.D told the court that the suspect complained about the cell conditions and food and said that the conditions were inhumane.

The judge then ordered that the suspects be detained for 8 more days for more investigations to be carried out on the incident.