Man Sentenced for Using Counterfeit Money at Casino in TRNC

A man has been sentenced to nine months in prison by the High Criminal Court in Nicosia, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), after he attempted to use counterfeit currency at a casino.

The defendant, Elad Vishnipolski, was found guilty of distributing fake U.S. dollars in Nicosia. According to court records, the incident occurred on January 15, 2025. At around 1:00 a.m., Vishnipolski used four forged $100 bills at a casino located on Mehmet Akif Street, handing them to staff at the venue.

During a personal search, police also discovered an additional $1,500 in counterfeit bills, which were confiscated and submitted as evidence.

In delivering the sentence, the court considered several mitigating factors. Vishnipolski is living far from his family, is the primary caretaker for eight individuals, and suffers from a heart condition. The court also noted that he had no prior criminal record and had cooperated fully with the investigation.

The judge stated that the defendant showed genuine remorse and offered an apology during the trial. Taking all factors into account, the court issued a unanimous decision to sentence him to nine months in prison.