Two Turkish Cypriot men arrested over fake diploma for promotion

A Turkish Cypriot man has been detained after it was discovered that he the diplomas he submitted for promotion were fake.

Former Undersecretary of the Ministry of Labor and Cooperative Companies Registrar, ÇI was arrested on allegation that the undergraduate and graduate diplomas he received from Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University were fake. 

Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University Vice Rector, SI was also arrested on the allegation of fake diplomas. 

They were brought to the Lefkosia district court on Saturday on charges of fake diplomas and corruption.

An investigation was launched against Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University located in Güzelyurt.

The diplomas are being investigated by the financial crimes unit of the General Directorate of Police whether they were purchased with money.

Explaining the facts in court, police noted that the investigation was carried out around fake documents, putting fake documents into use and obtaining money by fraud.

Stating that ÇI received his undergraduate degree in psychology and master's degree in business management at Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University, the police stated that he applied to the Social Insurance Office with a fake diploma to get a higher rank.

Police said the haphazard arrangements were made in SI's unsuccessful master's degree notes belonging to ÇI, upon the instructions of Serdal Gündüz, the junior partner of the university who was detained within the scope of the investigation, and stated that SI admitted that the signature on the master's degree diploma belonged to him.

The police also said that CI's registration to the undergraduate department, grade entry and diploma preparation date were dated October 17, 2022, and that the university's archives collapsed in 2023. 

The matter will be investigated and statements will be taken in addition to the 11 statements taken.

The judge decided that both suspects should be detained for 3 days and that ÇI, who had a stent in his vein, should be examined by a doctor.

Serdal Gündüz, a minor shareholder of the university, and Amir Shakira, who were previously arrested within the scope of the investigation, were taken to the Güzelyurt Court and it was decided that they would be detained for 6 days each.