Man tells judge he wants asylum

A MAN from Cameroon yesterday told a Nicosia judge that he wanted political asylum, just as the judge was about to sentence him for entering the island illegally.

The court had heard how the 30-year-old had entered the island illegally via the occupied north in April 2004. After a brief stay in the north, he attempted to pass into the south in March last year with a false French ID card.

He was arrested and immediately charged, telling officers: “I admit the offence and I am sorry. I wanted to come to the south because I want a better life.”

But Judge Angelos David was taken aback when he asked the Cameroonian man if he had anything to say before passing sentence.

“I want to request political asylum,” the man said, speaking through an interpreter.

“Why didn’t you say anything all this time you were in prison,” asked the judge.

“It was not possible for me to request political asylum because I was in prison,” replied the man.

“I was arrested straight away and was never given a chance to request anything.”

Prosecutor Stavroulla Theodotou told the judge that the man had never requested political asylum.

“In light of the defendant’s request for political asylum, the court rules that a postponement be made for date of sentencing. Legislation of the Republic for political refugees runs in accordance with EU laws and states that a man cannot be refused the right to ask political asylum,” said Judge David.

The judge told the man to take advantage of the break to make an official request for political asylum and, should the police refuse, to contact a lawyer or the United Nations.
Sentencing was rescheduled for May 23.

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