In Lefkoşa, a 32-year-old man sentenced to 4 years for possession of a pistol

Lead: In Lefkoşa in Northern Cyprus, the Assize Court on January 9, 2026 sentenced 32-year-old Ismail Baydar to four years’ imprisonment for illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition. The defendant was detained on April 18, 2025 in a hotel room during Operation “Mousetrap” conducted by the Crime Prevention Department.

Details: The court found that a 7.65 mm Browning pistol, one magazine with eight rounds inside, and one round in the chamber — a total of nine rounds — were discovered during a search of Baydar’s room. Earlier, on April 17, 2025, the owner of a nightclub reported to the police that an unknown person had sent a photo of his car via WhatsApp to the number of Ismet Felek. CCTV footage in the Gönyeli area recorded a man wearing a cap and a medical mask approaching the vehicle; he then traveled by bus to the Lefkoşa bus terminal area and checked into a hotel.

Court’s position: The judge noted that the defendant failed to provide a plausible explanation for the origin of the weapon and that the presence of ammunition indicated the possibility of actual use of the pistol. In sentencing, mitigating factors were taken into account: no prior convictions, the fact that the weapon was not used in a crime, and the defendant having a wife and three dependent children. The court also emphasized that the rise in violence and firearm-related crimes causes serious public concern and requires deterrent measures.