Man accused of distributing explicit images of minor detained on arrival in north Cyprus

LEFKOŞA – A man accused of violating the privacy of a minor by distributing explicit material has been remanded in custody for one month following his arrest at Ercan Airport upon re-entry into the country after several years abroad.

The suspect, identified only as A.B., was wanted in connection with an alleged incident dating back to February 2021, when he was 18 years old. Now 22, A.B. was detained and brought before a Lefkoşa court after arriving from overseas.

During the court proceedings, Police Officer said the investigation began when a man named N.D. approached the Lefkoşa Criminal Branch on February 18, 2021, reporting that sexually explicit images of his 13-year-old relative had been circulating online. N.D. requested an investigation to identify the individual responsible for sharing the content.

Subsequent police inquiries led to the identification and questioning of five individuals, whose mobile phones were seized and examined. However, investigators concluded that none of the five had shared the video; they were found to have accessed the material online.

The investigation then turned to the minor, who reportedly told authorities that she had sent the video in question to A.B. As a result, A.B. was declared a wanted person. However, he had already left the country, and no further legal action could be taken at the time.

Authorities confirmed that A.B. returned to Cyprus on the morning of May 9 via Ercan Airport. He was summoned to the police station, where he voluntarily gave a statement. In his testimony, A.B. admitted receiving the video from the girl but denied distributing it online. He claimed he forwarded the video only to the girl's uncle in an attempt to warn him.

Police informed the court that the investigative phase in which the suspect could potentially interfere has been completed. They also noted that A.B. currently resides abroad and entered the country on a tourist visa. On these grounds, police requested his detention pending trial.

The presiding judge accepted the police request and ordered A.B. to be held in custody for a period not exceeding one month.