Filenews 13 August 2021 - by Dora Christodoulou
Increasingly serious dimensions are appearing following the phenomenon of the emergence of African-born people at Paphos airport, who attempt with forged travel documents to travel as European citizens to EU countries such as France, Belgium and Italy. On Thursday a 15-year-old boy showed up at the departures in possession of forged travel documents indicating him as an adult Portuguese.
The minor attempted to board a plane bound for an Italian airport, but during the passport check there were suspicions that the document he presented was not genuine, although the photograph shown on it did indeed depict him.
Under questioning the youngster admitted impersonation, saying he was aged 15. The minor was taken to the Offices of the TAF Paphos and in the presence of a social services officer and lawyer, gave written testimony, admitting the commission of the offences and that the travel document was taken by an unknown person in Nicosia.
The 15-year-old was arrested and taken into custody, while the file was sent to the Legal Service for instructions due to the specificity of his age. Cases of conspiracy to commit a felony, forgery, circulation of a false document, impersonation, illegal entry and illegal residence in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus are being examined against him.
The examinations are continued by the T.E.O. Paphos.
