Real estate agent forcefully detains and assault student tenant; refuses to refund deposit

A real estate agent in Lefkoşa was arrested by Turkish Cypriot police after allegedly locking a university student inside his office and assaulting him during a dispute over a rental deposit.

The agent named Lütfi Kanlı, was arrested and brought to the Lefkoşa district court on Thursday December 4 on charges of false imprisonment and assault.

Presenting the case in court, the police, stated that the incident occurred on 3 December 2025 at around 12:15 p.m. The complainant, 26-year-old student named only as K.D., reportedly visited the real estate office on Terminal Street to request the return of his deposit after deciding to vacate the rented apartment.

Kanlı allegedly informed the student that the deposit would not be returned due to outstanding electricity and water bills. According to the police, the situation escalated when K.D. said he would go to the police, prompting Kanlı to lock the office door, preventing him from leaving.

K.D. was allegedly pushed and assaulted during the incident.

The police investigation revealed that surveillance footage captured key moments of the confrontation. According to the evidence, the student entered the office to request his deposit, and when he attempted to leave upon refusal, Kanlı closed the door and forcibly detained him.

The complainant began recording the incident on his mobile phone, but Kanlı allegedly seized the device and continued to assault him, holding him inside the office for approximately five minutes before eventually letting him go.

Police confirmed that: the security footage from the real estate office has been secured and that the complainant has provided a formal statement.

The student was examined by a doctor and a medical report has been issued.

Police said a court-issued digital forensics order will allow further analysis of the video evidence at the Police General Directorate’s Data Examination Unit.

Police noted that the portion of the investigation that could be influenced by the suspect has been completed. Kanlı reportedly denies the allegations and has no prior criminal record.

After reviewing the evidence, the judge ordered the suspect to be released on bail on the condition that: he is banned from travelling abroad, pay a cash bail of 50,000 TL, bring two guarantors to sign bail bonds of 600,000 TL.