Man asks for change of cell room due to overcrowding by drug addict prisoners

A Turkish Cypriot man who was awaiting trial in prison has applied for a change of cell room on the ground that the cell was over occupied with drug users.

The individual, E.A who was sent to prison after allegedly raiding a house in Gönyeli with a rifle, opening fire, stealing money appeared at the Lefkosa district court on Thursday to apply for a change in cell room.

E.A who was accused of stealing 500,000TL from the house and charged to court for "breaking into a house, illegal carrying and possession of firearms, illegal carrying and possession of explosives, theft, deliberate damage, and threat of violence" shed tears in court while pleading for a change of cell room.

However, his lawyer withdrew his application for a change in bail requesting a trial without detention before the hearing even began.

Appearing before the judge, defendant Algun said the following:

“I am 45 years old, due to the negative developments in my life, I started using drugs, which I disliked the most, at the age of 36. I received treatment, I went through difficult times. About 2 months ago, I was sent to prison to stand trial. The prison is packed. Two days ago, 10 people were released on parole, but we are still staying in a cell with 13 other people. They are all addicts. I saw drugs that I have never seen or heard of in my life in prison. Your honor, I was sent to prison to stand trial, but I am serving a sentence inside. Please send me to cell C-16 next to Tekin Arhun, there is an empty seat there. Otherwise, I will lose my sanity.”

Following the suspect's statements, the judge stated that he could not interfere with the decisions made by the prison administration and that he should discuss the matter with his lawyer and find a solution.

On Friday, the Central Prison officials stated that the suspect's statements did not reflect the truth. The prison administration stated that some prisoners gave false information in order to create a sensation, and that they made such claims in order to discredit the prison and to be with the people they wanted.

Prison authorities said, "The requests of prisoners to be able to stay with their acquaintances are evaluated according to their crimes. Prisoners convicted of drug or similar crimes are kept in one place, those who have committed murder are kept in another place, and juvenile offenders are kept in another place. Routine checks are carried out in the prison every day and security breaches are prevented. The suspect's claims were investigated and it was revealed that they did not reflect the truth."