Kurdish man fled south to feed family

A NICOSIA Court yesterday heard how a Kurdish man tried to pass into the south with a false identity card because he needed to feed his family.

The plea was heard during the remand hearing of the 31-year-old, who investigators have stated is under investigation for conspiracy, identity fraud, illegal entrance into Cyprus and illegal residence in Cyprus.

Addressing Judge Lemonia Kaoutzani yesterday, the suspect said: “I am sorry for what happened. I am guilty. I did it because I have six children and I need to work so I can feed them.”
According to CID Investigator Yiannos Pitsillides, a car with Turkish Cypriot number plates was stopped at the Ayios Dhometios checkpoint by Greek Cypriot officers.

“The driver of the car told the officers at the checkpoint that his brother was in the passenger’s seat and gave two ID cards. But one officer noticed that the picture on the card didn’t look the man in the car.

“When the officer told the driver this, he went back to his car and [the motorist] tried to speed off. However, he crashed into a car in front of him and escaped on foot. The other man in the car was arrested,” said the investigator.

The suspect was taken back to the station where he told police that he had met the other man in Nicosia and that he had agreed to get him into the south.

Judge Kaoutzani yesterday remanded the man in police custody for eight days.

Police have issued a manhunt for the driver of the car going under the name Ulus Kizilyurek.

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