Suspects arrested in connection with the murder of Turkish Cypriot woman to remain in prison for one month until trial

The two suspects arrested in connection with the murder of a Turkish Cypriot woman in her place of work in Lefkosia were sent to prison for a period not exceeding one month until trial.

The unfortunate incident happened at around 2:47pm on Dec., 22, 2023, when the deceased, Ayça Alav, 45, a Turkish Cypriot woman was found dead at her place of work named HİT BET, a luggage sales place on Surlariçi Vakıf Street in the Lefkosia. 

Her hands and feet were tied with an antenna cable and seat belt. Her hands were tied from behind and her mouth wrapped with duct tape which caused her death.

Ayça Alav, a resident of Girne, is one of the owners of Alav Foreign Exchange.

Two men, F.L.D., a Cameroonian and S.H, 31, a Pakistan national were identified and arrested in connection with the incident. Police said they were found to have helped the murder suspects escape from the scene of the incident. 

They were taken to court on charges of premeditated murder" and "robbery".

Police told the court on Monday, Jan., 8, that the two suspects who committed the crime are currently being sought.

Police said the suspects went to Alav Döviz, which operates nearby, and stole an undetermined amount of foreign currency and TL. 

The murder suspects, who left the scene, went to Ercan Airport to escape to South Cyprus with the help of F.L.D., who received 50 euros and S.H. who received 100 euros.  

Police stated that S.H picked up the murder suspects from F.L.D's house. Their phones examination revealed that both of them had a conversation with a person in south Cyprus regarding the murder suspects' escape to Southern Cyprus.

Police said the suspects admitted to the crime of "human trafficking" brought against them. 

Police said that F.L.D had stayed in the country without a resident permit for 40 days since November 30, 2023 while S.H had a work permit.

Noting that the part of the investigation that could influence the case has been completed, the police stated that the suspects who committed the crime of human trafficking could easily escape prosecution and requested that they be sent to prison for a period not exceeding one month.

Evaluating the testimony in court, the judge stated that the crime of human trafficking committed by the suspects carries a 5-year prison sentence and requested that the suspects be sent to prison for a period not exceeding one month until trial.