Filenews 8 February 2022 - by Michalis Hadjivasilis
Three persons were sentenced by two separate Courts to heavy prison sentences for assisting migrants to enter the territory of the Republic. Two Turkish nationals were sentenced to four years in prison, while the third from Cameroon was sentenced to three and a half years in prison.
Specifically, the Assize Court of Nicosia imposed prison sentences of 4 years, 3.5 years and 8 months, on three charges respectively, on two persons from Turkey, who admitted that in order to make a profit, they assisted the entry of migrants into the territory of the Republic, namely 13 persons from Syria. The offences in which the accused were found guilty concern:
>> Assisting the illegal entry of third-country nationals into the territory of the Republic.
>> Smuggling of an immigrant in violation of international treaties.
>> Transport of a person by sea in an unsafe or overloaded vessel in violation of articles of the Penal Code.
It is noted that the offences in the indictment were committed before the amendment of the relevant laws that increased the sentences from 8 to 15 years for the first charge and from 2 years in prison to 12 years in prison for the third category.
Moreover, the Larnaca District Court yesterday sentenced a 28-year-old from Cameroon to 3.5 years in prison, after finding him guilty in connection with a case involving aiding third-country nationals to enter illegally into the territory of the Republic, an offence committed on November 10, 2021.
The accused, a resident of Cyprus, was spotted transporting by car, in the free areas of the Republic, five persons who entered illegally. The car was stopped for inspection by members of the Larnaca Police Department, in the area of Pyla and Oroklini. The vehicle was carrying five persons who were nationals of third countries, who, according to police examinations, appear to have entered the Republic illegally, specifically from the occupied areas.
