Two students arrested for stealing food from a market in north Cyprus

Three men arrested in connection with the theft of food and beverage items from a market in Lefkosia appeared before a court on Tuesday.

According to police testimony in court, the incident occurred on 5 September 2025, at 00:22, when the suspects IK, AZ, and MB, who are Moroccan students in north Cyprus allegedly stole goods worth 6,855 TL from a supermarket located on Dr. Fazıl Küçük Boulevard.

The suspects were taken into custody, and an investigation was launched. 

Police later determined that IK had been residing illegally in the TRNC since 6 April 2025, totaling 155 days without a valid residence permit. Due to his unlawful status, police requested that he be remanded until trial.

Police also reported that AZ, who holds student status, was already linked to a pending case involving burglary and theft in Lefkoşa on 16 April 2025. Meanwhile, MB, also a student, was confirmed to be legally residing in the country with no prior criminal record. The police therefore requested bail for both.

After considering the evidence, the judge ruled that AZ and MB be released on bail under the following conditions: banned from leaving the country, report to the police once a week, pay a cash bail of 300,000 TL each.

The judge ordered IK to be remanded in prison for a period not exceeding 20 days.