Journalist arrested in north Cyprus in fake diploma scandal

A Journalist was arrested last week in Güzelyurt north Cyprus in connection with the fake diploma investigation at Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU).

The Journalist SK who  is on the Board of Trustees at the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University found himself facing the Güzelyurt District Court after being arrested in connection to the fake diploma investigation at Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University.

Giving evidence at court, police stated that SK was detained for allegedly instigating the production of forged documents.

Investigations revealed that SK had enrolled in the school system on February 1, 2021, and purportedly graduated from the Business Department on May 31, 2023, falsely claiming four years of education when he should have graduated in the fall of 2025. 

Police also mentioned that SK confessed to engaging in these activities alongside General Secretary and junior partner at KSTU SG, who is currently in prison. 

The police requested a three-day detention, that the investigation is ongoing. 

The court, acknowledging the ongoing investigation, granted a three-day detention order against SK.

A number of high profile individuals including former education minister KD, are among those arrested in connection with the fake diploma scandal. This event has shed more light on allegations of corruption at institutes of higher education.

On May 1, Education Minister Nazım Çavuşoğlu was questioned in parliament about the diploma scandal, it was pointed out that there had been no action taken by the government.

The education minister responded by saying, “Those who need to be punished will be, those who need to be dismissed from their jobs will be, and those who need to be demoted will be ”. 

Çavuşoğlu also disclosed that a letter cancelling the opening permit for Mesarya University had been sent and that the files of other universities with opening permits were with the Prosecutor’s Office.