Turk jailed for illegal entry

TWO Turkish nationals appeared in court yesterday after crossing to the free areas in separate incidents.

Twenty-six-year-old Sonmes Suleyman was convicted by the Larnaca district court of illegal entry and sentenced to 20 days’ imprisonment.

Suleyman had admitted to entering the occupied areas through Kyrenia harbour and crossing over to the free areas on October 16. He managed to slip past Turkish sentry posts and was found wandering between Oroklini and Pyla.

A second man, Turkish soldier Ali Yuce, was remanded in custody for two days after being spotted wandering in the centre of Troulli at around midnight on Monday. He was later arrested in neighbouring Athienou at the village coffeeshop.

The Turkish soldier was found in possession of photographs of other soldiers, and a Turkish identity card showing that he was a resident of Diyarbakir. Asked if he was a Kurd, Yuce replied ‘no’.

Both men said that they had crossed over to the free areas in search for a better life.

Suleyman said that he did not know that it was forbidden to cross over to the free areas.

“I was on my way to surrender to the police and on my way I found a police patrol and surrendered,” he told the court. “I gave them my identity card and I told them who I was. I apologise to your government for the offence I am supposed to have had committed and I would like to live with the Greek Cypriots in the free areas. If my proposal is not accepted, then do not send me back to Turkey, but anywhere else except Turkey.”

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