The so-called 'Assize Court' in Kyrenia sentenced five men from Turkey to prison terms ranging from 10 to 12 years after finding them guilty in a sexual assault case involving an 18-year-old woman in April 2024.
According to mykibris.com, the convicted men are Yusuf Atan, İbrahim Arzakçı, Şehmus Kaya, Zülküf Kaya and Baver Yaşar, who had travelled to the north from Turkey during the Bayram holiday period.
According to evidence presented before the court and cited in the report, the five men met the 18-year-old victim, identified by the initials I.F., at an entertainment venue in Kyrenia on 13 April 2024.
They subsequently took her to the house where they were staying, where the sexual assault allegedly occurred. The incident was also recorded on video.
The court announced its verdict at midday, imposing:
- 12 years' imprisonment on Yusuf Atan and İbrahim Arzakçı.
- 10 years' imprisonment on Şehmus Kaya and Zülküf Kaya.
- 11 years' imprisonment on Baver Yaşar.
Following the announcement of the sentences, tensions erupted as the convicted men were being transferred to a prison vehicle.
According to reports from the north, some of the men shouted abuse at staff present at the court, while others reacted angrily to journalists and the taking of photographs.
One of the men sentenced to 10 years in prison, who requested that the court prepare the full written reasoning for its decision, said as he was leaving:
"God is great. The court should be ashamed."
Another defendant sentenced to 12 years maintained that he and the others were innocent, stating:
"We didn't do it, you should know that."
