Lefkosa Resident Imprisoned After 16 Years of Illegal Residency
Lefkosa resident Abubakar Uthman, 44, who had been living illegally in the city for 16 years, was sent to prison following his arrest, which sparked public outrage.
Bar Association President Hasan Esendağlı, present at the court for Uthman’s hearing, did not oppose his imprisonment but announced plans to apply for restoring his legal status.
Esendağlı requested that Uthman be examined by a doctor at the Barış Mental and Nervous Diseases Hospital.
Known for his frequent appearances in the news and his habit of walking the streets day and night in the same clothing—three thick coats and torn shoes—Uthman was arrested after 5,807 days as part of an illegal residency check.
The Ghanaian national, charged with “being in the TRNC without a residence permit,” appeared in the Lefkosa District Court this morning.
During the proceedings before Judge Nuray Necdet, prosecutor Mehmet Özyay, representing the TRNC Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office, called Hasan Çelik as a witness.
In his sworn testimony, Çelik confirmed that Uthman was identified on Bedrettin Demirel Street at 18:30 on August 24 and revealed that he had been without a residence permit for 5,807 days, since September 30, 2008.
Çelik emphasized that Uthman had no legal status and requested his detention in prison for a period not exceeding 20 days, without penalty.
The court ordered that Uthman be detained for up to 20 days and undergo a medical examination.
