Woman arrested for carrying a fake passport released on bail after it was determined that the passport was original

It has been determined that a woman who was arrested while trying to exit north Cyprus via the border gate with the south for allegedly carrying a fake passport was actually carrying a real passport.

The individual, AOO, a Nigerian woman was arrested on December 13 at the Metehan crossing Gate with south Cyprus while trying to exit the north after immigration found that she was carrying a fake passport.

She was brought to court on December 14 on charges of “circulating a forged document,” “impersonation,” and “obtaining a record through fraudulent conduct”.

Further investigation showed that she was carrying an original passport.

She was brought back to court again on Saturday December 21.

Speaking in court, police said the suspect on March 21, 2024 entered north Cyprus via the Ercan Airport with a passport with the name P******* E******* obtained in Nigeria. 

By assuming the identity of P******* E****** and presenting the forged passport to the immigration officer, the suspect allegedly circulated the forged document, assumed another person’s identity, and fraudulently obtained a record to enter the country.

The officer further explained that on December 13, 2024, the suspect was caught red-handed at the Metehan Gate while attempting to exit the country using an Irish passport issued under the name P******* E******.

The police explained that the suspect had been brought before the court twice and was given a total of nine additional days in custody. 

The investigation revealed that both passports in the suspect's possession were original, but the Irish passport belonged to another individual. 

The police noted that the portion of the investigation that the suspect could influence has been completed and that the suspect was in the country under student status, requesting bail conditions.

After evaluating the testimony, the judge ordered that the suspect be prohibited from leaving the country, report to the police twice a week, and provide a cash bail of 40,000 TL.