Man sentenced to one year in prison for using fake passport at Ercan airport

Lefkoşa – Deejan Basnet has been sentenced to one year in prison by the Lefkosia Assize Court after being caught attempting to use a forged Spanish passport at Ercan Airport.

The ruling was delivered on Monday June 2.

The defendant was accused of “circulating a forged document” and “attempting to obtain registration through fraudulent behavior.”

According to the court, the incident occurred on April 9, 2025, at approximately 9:45 PM, when Basnet presented a falsified Spanish passport—allegedly sent to him by an unknown individual abroad—to an immigration officer at Ercan Airport. The passport had been fraudulently prepared in his name.

The judge noted that Basnet was found guilty based on his own admission and the uncontested evidence presented by the prosecution. The judge highlighted that the offense of using a forged official document carries a maximum penalty of up to 10 years in prison under the Criminal Code.

“This is a grave and serious offense,” the judge stated. “As can be seen from the maximum sentence prescribed by law, it is a crime that affects public order and is increasingly common in our jurisdiction. Such acts are of direct concern to the public.”

The court emphasized the critical role of passports in international travel, particularly in maintaining border security and verifying the identity of individuals entering or exiting the country. The use of forged documents and attempts to deceive immigration officials were described as actions that compromise national security and public trust, and are viewed as offenses against state authority.

However, the court also considered mitigating factors in sentencing. Basnet, aged 36, is married with a three-year-old child, and he expressed remorse by pleading guilty. He had been held in pre-trial detention for approximately two months and will serve his sentence in a foreign country where he does not speak the language and is separated from his family.

“These personal circumstances were taken into account in determining an appropriate sentence,” the judge said. “Nevertheless, considering the seriousness of the offense, the public interest, and the severity of the potential penalty, we have concluded that a prison sentence is necessary.”

Basnet was ultimately sentenced to one year in prison.