A so-called “military tribunal” in the Turkish occupied part of Nicosia on Friday “acquitted” five elderly Greek Cypriot citizens, three men and two women, accused of entering into a “military zone” designated by the pseudo-state.
The five was arrested last July 19 after “customs staff” at a green line crossing claimed one of the five had not presented an ID card. Testimony in the pseudo-state “court” showed that the five had crossed into the occupied areas more than 400 times over the recent years.
In fact, the “court” ruled that the allegations against the five elderly Greek Cypriots had not been proven “beyond reasonable doubt.” At one point, the pseudo-state’s authorities referred to “espionage” charges against the five. According to reports, the two couples and a third man hail from the currently occupied village of Trikomo, which they were visited.
Following the verdict, three of the five men were expected to return to the free areas of the island republic, while the other two face separate “charges” before a “district court” in Trikomo.
Cypriot media quoted the five Cypriot citizens’ defense lawyer, Oncel Polili, as saying would attempt to retrieve their ID cards, whereas it remains unclear whether the pseudo-state’s prosecution” will appeal the verdict within a 14-day deadline.
“The court of the security forces has acquitted all five of our clients. The court found that the charge was not proven and that there was no logical reason for Mr. G. not to hand over his identity card.”
The attorney added that the court noted the lack of fingerprint analysis on the identity card as an “investigative deficiency” contributing to the acquittal. “Five Greek Cypriots came here as innocent, and they will soon leave as innocent,” he said, emphasizing that “the most important aspect of this case is the solidarity shown among Cypriots.”
