Foreigner sentenced to 18 months in prison for a series of theft in northern Cyprus

A foreign national who was arrested and tried for stealing from several businesses in northern Cyprus has been sentenced to 18 months in prison.

The defendant, named only as AA, a Turkmenistan national was brought to court on charges of "Breaking and Entering, Theft, and Trespassing on Property", following a series of theft incidents that happened in Lefkoşa in December 2024.

Delivering the judgement on Wednesday April 16, the senior judge stated that on December 3, 2024, the defendant unlawfully entered a business called Rakı Müren operating on Gelibolu Street in Lefkosia, without the owner's consent and through an unknown entry point.

Once inside, he stole an Orionpos brand cash register, 3 Redmi brand mobile phones, three 70cl bottles of 18-year-old Chivas Regal whisky, one 70cl bottle of Black Label whisky, one 70cl bottle of Red Label whisky, one 70cl bottle of Greenall gin, one 70cl bottle of 18-year-old Johnnie Walker whisky, and a white tip box shaped like a house containing 9,260 TL.

On December 12, 2024, the defendant also entered a café called Kemja located on Atatürk Street in Lfkosia. He opened the west-facing aluminum glass window without causing damage and entered the customer seating area. He then opened the west-facing electronic door hinges without damage and entered the premises. Inside, he stole a plastic Nescafe cup valued at 7 TL, along with seven handmade necklaces and seven bracelets, all valued at 2,000 TL in total, and exited through the same way.

The judge noted that the defendant was identified through surveillance camera footage and subsequently arrested.

According to immigration control, the judge stated that the defendant had been living illegally in the country from December 29, 2023, until the date of his arrest. The court found him guilty on all charges.

The judge emphasized that the crimes of breaking and entering and theft are becoming increasingly common, and that deterrent and exemplary punishments must be imposed. These offenses, punishable by up to 7 years in prison under the Penal Code, are considered violations of property rights.

The judge further noted that the defendant originally entered the country as a student, later fell into illegal status, and committed these crimes while unlawfully residing in the country. The court expressed that such conduct by individuals who enter as students cannot be tolerated.

It was also noted that the defendant committed similar offenses on two separate occasions.

Taking into account the fact that the complainants did not press charges, and that the defendant is young and has no prior criminal record, the court sentenced him to 18 months in prison.