Four remanded for staying in north Cyprus without a resident permit

Four individuals, who were identified and arrested for staying in north Cyprus without a residence permit were remanded on the order of a court on Thursday.

The individuals, S.Y, a Nigerian, G.A.K, L.D.M, both Congolese and N.M.O, a Bangladeshi national were arrested and brought the the Lefkosia district court on Thursday for living in north Cyprus without a resident permit.

Testifying in court, police said N.M.O, a resident of Lefkosia was identified and arrested when he visited the Lefkosia Police Immigration Department to obtain an entry and exit record at around 11:20am on Wednesday October 2. During the immigration check, it was determined that he has resided in the TRNC without permit for 48 days since August, 15, 2024. 

The individuals G.A.K and L.D.M were identified and arrested at around 9:30pm on Wednesday October 2 on Şht. Hüseyin Street in Küçük Kaymaklı, Lefkosia by a team of police affiliated to the Lefkosia Police Department. During the immigration checks, it was determined that G.A.K had been residing in the TRNC without a residence permit for 673 days and L.D.M for 1403 days.

The individual S.Y, a resident of Gönyeli was identified and arrested at around 1:40am on Tuesday October 1 on Şht Ali Yusuf Hacı Street in Gönyeli after he was stopped due to suspicious movements. During immigration check, it was determined that he had not had a residence permit in the TRNC for 366 days since September, 30, 2023.

The police said that the necessary immigration investigation into the suspects had been completed and requested that they be sent to prison for 20 days until trial.

Speaking in court, L.D.M stated that she could not continue her studies due to financial difficulties, that she was aware that she had been an illegal residents for four years, that she was working somewhere, and that her employer had promised to provide her with legal status but did not do so.

The court ruled that the suspects be sent to prison for a period not exceeding 20 days until trial.