Interpreter who fled Iraq ends up in Cyprus jail
By John Leonidou
A MAN who fled for his life after working with the US army in Iraq, has been jailed by a Nicosia Court after admitting to entering the island illegally and owning a false passport.
The 28-year-old was arrested at the Ledra Palace checkpoint on January 15 when he tried to cross into the occupied north with a fake Portuguese passport bearing the name Armando Victor.
Yesterday, Nicosia District Judge Alexandros Panayiotou sentenced the 28-year-old to nine months’ jail for the four counts of illegal entry, conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of a forged passport and illegal residence on the island.
Police got suspicious when they noticed the nervous-looking Iraqi trying to cross over to the north.
“Because he looked nervous and
because he looked of Middle Eastern origin, the constable decided to take him into the office for questioning,� said the judge.
[
i never thought i'd see this type of prejudice especially in Cyprus media. We all here look of Middle Eastern origin!!!! We ARE Middle Easterners! What the.....???]
“After only a few questions, the defendant admitted that his real name was in fact the defendant.�
The Iraqi’s lawyer Christos Demetriou told the court the man had been working as an interpreter for the US army in Iraq. He fled after two attempts on his life, ending up in Turkey before finally arriving in the occupied north.
In the north, the court heard, the Iraqi bought the forged Portuguese passport for $2,000 from an African man.
His real passport was later found at the apartment he had rented in Nicosia.
“His fear for his life is what drove him to commit the offences,� Demetriou had pleaded in mitigation.
“
An attempt on his life was made not once but twice and he was forced to flee his home because he had co-operated with the US army, with whom he had worked with as an interpreter. During questioning, he immediately confessed.�
Jailing the man yesterday, Judge Panayiotou said that despite the defendant’s ordeal, the seriousness of his crimes gave the court no choice but to impose the sentence of imprisonment.
Copyright © Cyprus Mail 2007
