Two sentenced to 2 years and 7 others to 6 months in prison for trying to enter south Cyprus illegally

The Lefkosa Heavy Penal Court on Friday sentenced two of the nine defendants to two years in prison after they were convicted of attempting to illegally transport seven foreign nationals to the southern part of Cyprus.

The two defendants named only as SR and CK were each sentenced to two years in prison after they were arraigned in court on charges of “money laundering” and “forming a secret alliance.”

The other seven individuals — BO, EG, BK, MA, BF, AA and MA — who attempted to cross illegally to the south, were each sentenced to six months in prison after being charged with “forming a secret alliance to commit a serious offense.”

The court decision on Friday April 18 was announced by the Presiding Judge who stated that the defendants were found guilty of the charges brought against them based on the evidence and facts presented.

The presiding judge noted that SR and CK were caught while trying to smuggle the other seven defendants into the Republic of Cyprus illegally in exchange for money. 

The judge also pointed out that the offense of money laundering carries a sentence of up to 15 years in prison or a fine of up to 500,000 Turkish Lira. Furthermore, the judge emphasized that the charge of “forming a secret alliance to commit a serious crime” is a severe offense punishable by up to seven years in prison.

The judge stressed that the roles of the two defendants who tried to smuggle the others into the Republic of Cyprus were more serious compared to the other defendants. 

“It is unacceptable for foreign nationals coming to our country to commit such serious crimes,” the judge said.

Highlighting the serious damage caused to public interest by these crimes, the announced that SR and CK were sentenced to two years each, while the other seven defendants received six-month prison sentences each.