2 Years and 6 Months in Prison for Driving Drunk, Using Fake ID, and Living Illegally

Judge Tutku Candaş stated that the defendant had been living illegally in the country when he was caught driving under the influence and attempted to deceive the police using someone else’s identity.

Kyoni faced charges of document forgery, incitement to forge, and identity fraud. The ruling was delivered by a judicial panel headed by Füsun Cemaller, with Senior Judge Vedia Berkut Barkın and Judge Tutku Candaş.

According to Judge Candaş, on February 1, 2025, Kyoni was detected by traffic officers driving while intoxicated in Nicosia. He refused to provide a breath sample and was taken to the police station, where he gave a false name and had a traffic fine issued in someone else’s name.

Subsequent immigration checks revealed Kyoni had been living in the country illegally since November 23, 2022. The court found that despite his undocumented status, he not only drove under the influence but also attempted to mislead law enforcement.

Judge Candaş emphasized the gravity of the offenses, stating that crimes involving forged official documents threaten public order and undermine state authority. “The law provides for up to 10 years’ imprisonment for such crimes,” she said, noting the growing frequency of such cases.

"Anyone who comes to a country as a student has a responsibility to obey the laws. It is unacceptable for a foreign student to so brazenly commit such serious offenses that disturb our social peace,” she added.

The court also considered mitigating factors, including Kyoni’s admission of guilt, his apology, and the hardship of serving his sentence far from home in a country where he does not speak the language.

However, Judge Candaş concluded that the seriousness of the offenses and the public interest necessitated a custodial sentence, and Kyoni was sentenced to two years and six months in prison.