A man discovered living inside the prayer room at Ercan airport has been remanded for a further eight days while authorities continue efforts to deport him.
The suspect, identified as A.N.T., a national of Benin, was detained on 30 January after airport security staff reported that he had been staying inside the terminal’s mescit for four days.
Police told the court that an immigration check showed he had been in northern Cyprus without a valid residence permit since 29 November — a period of 62 days.
Giving evidence, police officer Doğucan Akdeniz said the man had already appeared before the court once and had been held for three days while officials initiated the paperwork required for deportation.
He said the process was ongoing and that authorities had yet to receive a response from the relevant departments.
The prosecution requested an additional eight days’ detention to allow time for the procedures to be completed. Judge Şevket Gazi granted the request, ordering that the man remain in custody.