Three minors aged 15, 16, and 17 were remanded in custody for five and two days for a case of vehicle theft in Paphos. The stolen car, worth €2,000, was found abandoned in a remote area in Stavrokonou after five days.
Russia expressed skepticism about the United States’ claims that the Islamic State was behind a gun attack on a concert hall outside Moscow, which resulted in 137 deaths and 182 injuries. The attack, occurring just before a performance by the rock group Picnic, was the deadliest in Russia in two decades. Four men, including at least one Tajik, were detained on terrorism charges. Despite the Islamic State claiming responsibility and the U.S. believing this claim, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not linked the group to the attack, instead suggesting the attackers were trying to flee to Ukraine. The U.S. had warned Russia about an imminent attack earlier in the month. Russia questioned the U.S.’s assertion of Islamic State’s involvement, hinting at a potential diversion to cover for Kyiv. The U.S. maintains intelligence confirming Islamic State’s responsibility. Putin mentioned the detention of 11 individuals, including the suspected gunmen. Videos of the suspects’ interrogations appeared on social media, showing signs of mistreatment. Following the attack, France raised its terror alert to the highest level.
A 40-year-old man was remanded into custody under suspicion of being involved in a suspected car arson. Police received testimony against him for allegedly being involved in setting a car on fire in an open lot on Friday night at 7pm. He appeared in court on Saturday and was remanded for eight days.
The north’s Famagusta police chief, Baris Sel, claimed his arrest in the “fake diploma scandal” was a conspiracy against him. He was accused of fraudulently obtaining a master’s degree from Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University (KSTU) in Morphou but claimed he submitted a thesis to KSTU’s general secretary. A lieutenant colonel from the ‘TRNC security forces command’ was arrested for obtaining a forged doctorate from KSTU but released on bail. Another ‘TRNC security forces command’ employee, a captain, was arrested and remanded in custody. Two relatives of Ersin Tatar’s bodyguard, Serif Avcil, were also arrested in connection with the scandal, with one found in possession of a certificate of study and the other a degree certificate from KSTU. Avcil claimed to have lost his phone when summoned to the police station.
The north’s ‘interior ministry’ requested the suspension of Meray Durust from her civil servant post due to her being on bail for allegedly forging documents. Durust had been working as the director of the north’s ‘labour ministry’ until her arrest with her husband, former ‘education minister’ Kemal Durust, in February over accusations of obtaining a false degree from Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University in Morphou. After her arrest, ‘labour minister’ Sadik Gardiyanoglu announced Durust was given a new public sector role in the Morphou District Governor’s office. Additionally, two relatives of Ersin Tatar’s bodyguard, Serif Avcil, also arrested in the same investigation, were found in possession of certificates from KSTU, with one having a degree certificate from a four-year undergraduate program. Both were remanded in custody for a day. Avcil, who appeared in court, claimed to have lost his phone on the way to the police station after being contacted to appear.
A 43-year-old man from Paphos was remanded in custody for two days on suspicion of twice breaking into a warehouse and stealing tools. The first theft involved €2,000 worth of tools, reported by a 33-year-old man on Sunday. A second break-in was reported on Tuesday, with an additional €1,500 worth of tools stolen. The suspect was subsequently arrested by the police.
The Turkish Cypriot community is facing a scandal involving fake university diplomas and corruption, which has now affected the security forces’ command. Lieutenant Colonel Özgür Alp was remanded in custody for using a fake diploma for promotion within the Turkish military. The fake diploma was claimed to be from the Cyprus Health and Social Sciences University in Morphou. A high-ranking police officer, Serif Avcil, was also arrested over a fake diploma. This scandal is part of larger issues involving the KSTU university in Morphou, with allegations of embezzlement and fraud through fake student registrations and diplomas. The university is owned by Levent Uysal, a deputy in the Turkish Grand National Assembly. Celebi Ilik, involved in the scandal, used fake diplomas for civil service promotions and is facing charges related to forgery. Uysal attempted to obtain a €45 million loan from Swiss IntaCapital bank with fake documents in 2022 but avoided judicial proceedings by getting elected to parliament in May 2023. Turgay Avci, chairman of the Turkish Cypriot higher education watchdog Yodak, is under investigation for possibly having a fake diploma. There are also allegations against Dunya Baris Universitesi for operating illegally and investigations into irregularities in a real estate purchase by Altinbas Holding. Ali Altınbaş and Sofu Altınbaş were detained in September 2020 for involvement in a fuel profiteering network and accused of establishing a criminal organisation, aggravated fraud, and forgery.
A 27-year-old man named Onur Kayabasi died in Kyrenia on Sunday, and his death may have been caused by a physical altercation he was involved in the previous week. An autopsy indicated that a blow to the abdominal region, resulting in a blood clot in one of his organs, might have caused his death. The altercation occurred on March 13 when Kayabasi and another man had a verbal argument that escalated, leading to Kayabasi being hit over the head and kicked in the abdominal area. Kayabasi sought medical attention for abdominal pain on March 14 but was later discharged. The man involved in the altercation with Kayabasi was arrested and remanded in custody for three days.
Six individuals were arrested and remanded in connection with three car thefts, according to police statements. The arrests included three 17-year-olds, a 19-year-old, and a 31-year-old, with three initially taken to Nicosia district court and given an eight-day remand. Following another tip, three more individuals were arrested and subsequently received a seven-day remand after appearing in court. All three stolen cars were recovered.
Three men, aged 30, 28, and 24, were arrested and remanded for eight days in Nicosia, suspected of aiding and abetting people smuggling along the Green Line. They were caught loading suitcases into a car near the Green Line. When signaled by the police to stop, they attempted to flee but crashed into a wall. The two younger men were found to be illegally in the Republic of Cyprus, while the 30-year-old was arrested for aiding illegal entry into the state’s territory.