Student arrested for illegal residency in north Cyprus tells court he wants to go back home

A student was sent to prison for 20 days by a north Cyprus court for living illegally in the country.

The individual, KO, a Nigerian student in Cyprus was identified during police checks in Gönyeli area at around 8.30pm on February 17, 2024.

He was arrested after he was found to have no resident permit. He was taken to court on charges of illegal residency on Feb., 18 and brought back to court again on Feb., 22.

Police said during the immigration check, it was determined that KO had been in the country without a residence permit for 140 days, since September 30, 2023.

The student in a statement told the police that he worked for 50 lira per day in a workplace in the Lefkosia Industrial Zone. Police said they were investigating this allegation.

Police stated that they went to the industrial area with the suspect, but he could not show the workplace where he said he worked. Police stated that they talked to industrial tradesmen, who said that the suspect came from time to time and asked for a job, but that he did not work anywhere. 

Noting that the investigation was completed, the police requested that the suspect be sent to prison for a period not exceeding 20 days.

The suspect spoke told the court that he wanted to go to his country.