Six people detained in Lefkoşa over forged lease agreements

In Lefkoşa, Northern Cyprus, on March 20, 2026, a court remanded six suspects in custody for three days in a case involving forged lease agreements. The suspects — Y.E., G.B., S.B., B.C., G.J., and M.M. — were brought to court following their detention, reported police officer E.Y. from the Lefkoşa Criminal Investigation Department.

According to the police, on March 13, 2026, in an apartment in Ortaköy, Y.E. prepared fictitious lease agreements in the names of G.B. and S.B. with the involvement of B.C., G.J., and M.M., despite these individuals not residing in Lefkoşa. S.B. presented one of the forged agreements to the Lefkoşa Tax Office during document processing and later showed the same document to the Girne Immigration Department while applying for a residence permit, which led to the discovery of the forgery.

Police stated that the suspects partially confessed to preparing the documents and that handwriting and signature samples were taken for forensic examination. Their legal status will also be verified. Judge S.G., after reviewing the materials, granted the police request for a three-day detention period.

This case demonstrates that immigration and law enforcement agencies verify submitted documents and hold individuals accountable for forged papers.