Newsroom
The ongoing trial of five Greek Cypriots held in the Turkish-occupied north since July 19 for allegedly entering a ''military zone'' has exposed more about checkpoint chaos than the accused offense itself, as witness testimony continues to raise contradictions.
The trial continued before the so-called “military court” in occupied Nicosia, with proceedings stretching from the morning into the afternoon. The focus was on prosecution witnesses, particularly a civil service employee stationed at the Strovilia roadblock the day the five were detained. His testimony drew sharp contradictions and strong pushback from the defense.
Hakan Ozkanturk, the main prosecution witness and the officer on duty at the checkpoint, claimed the detainees handed him only four identity cards. He explained that he did not check the vehicle due to heavy traffic and tinted windows, saying he “didn’t have the luxury” of asking passengers to roll them down. He also claimed he remembered the specific car because it matched a model he intended to buy.
The defense accused Ozkanturk of negligence and of lying out of fear of disciplinary action, pointing to four colleagues who had previously faced penalties for similar mistakes. Lawyers highlighted inconsistencies in his account, noting that he first spoke of an actual person and later of “a silhouette.” They argued such negligence could have allowed dangerous individuals, or even abducted children, to pass unchecked.
Other witnesses also contradicted themselves or admitted procedural gaps. The security chief at the Strovilia checkpoint said there is no obligation to check every vehicle with tinted windows, acknowledging this as a potential security flaw. Isa Sevidik, the chief of all checkpoint staff in the Famagusta area and the ninth prosecution witness, defended his employees, claiming they “never, ever commit illegal acts,” but admitted that human error can occur. He cited minor mistakes like incorrect visa dates as examples of errors that can happen despite staff diligence.
At one point, the trial was suspended and later resumed behind closed doors for testimony from a Turkish colonel, who presented a “military map” of the area.
The prosecution has announced plans to call a total of 20 witnesses, leaving the case far from resolved. For now, the five Greek Cypriots remain in detention, while the court continues to unravel a tangle of conflicting statements and operational confusion.
