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Cyprus: Illegal Turkey Kurd immigrant asks
police for job
13.4.2006
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An illegal immigrant
walked into a police station last Sunday and asked
the duty officer for a job, despite having already
been deported for illegal entry last year, a Nicosia
court heard yesterday.
Vahdettin Ozlu, a compact and smiling 20-year-old
Kurd, who has lived in Turkey his entire life, was
charged with four counts of entering the island
illegally; he has pleaded guilty to all charges.
According to the state prosecutor, the man had
already once entered the island via the Turkish
occupied areas on May 21, 2005, being deported a
couple of months later. But that did little to
dampen Ozlu’s enthusiasm, and he returned to the
island through Kyrenia on March 24 this year.
“The accused entered the free areas of the island on
April 9 this year through one of the checkpoints and
went straight to Paphos Gate Police Station, asking
one of the constables on duty if they would like to
hire him as a waiter,” the prosecutor said.
“Excuse me,” replied the stunned judge “did you say
Paphos Gate Police Station?”
“That’s what happened,” responded the laughing
prosecutor.
The court went on to hear how Ozlu was arrested
within an hour after the officer ran a check on his
name. The 20-year-old told arresting officers that
he came to Cyprus to work as a waiter because he was
so poor.
Passing sentence, Judge Nicos Yiapanas said: “The
problem of illegal immigrants is a growing problem
on the island. The offences are serious particularly
because it is the second time that he has been
caught illegally on the island.
“The court also takes into account the fact that the
accused comes from a poor family in Turkey and his
young age.”
Judge Yiapanas sentenced Ozlu to two months’
imprisonment from the day that he was taken into
remand.
Seemingly unfazed by the sentencing, Ozlu asked the
judge: “What will happen to me after I am released?”
“That is up to the state,” replied the judge.
www.cyprus-mail.com
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