Arrest after living illegally on island for 10 years

Paphos police have arrested a man they said has been illegally residing in Cyprus for the past ten years.

According to police the man stayed on after his employment contract was completed in 2014.

In 2017, he applied for protection status citing various risks he would face if he returned to his country.

His request, however, was rejected in April 2018 and he subsequently submitted an appeal, which was rejected in August 2019.

In November of the same year, he submitted a new appeal but this was also rejected so he filed a new request for international protection status.

This was also rejected after being deemed inadmissible by the asylum service.

New appeals by the individual against that decision followed. They were all rejected, the final one being issued in December 2022.