Lefkoşa court sentences two Turkish nationals to 11 and 6 years for restaurant shooting

The Lefkoşa Assize Court has handed down a verdict in the case of the armed attack on restaurant owner Ahmet Keskin, which took place on 22 February 2025. Muharem Lermi, who shot the victim, was sentenced to 11 years in prison, while his accomplice Metin Eminanç received 6 years.

Both were found guilty on all counts: aggravated bodily harm, the unlawful carrying and possession of firearms and ammunition, as well as firing a weapon in a populated area. The verdict was delivered by senior judge Vedia Berkut Barkın, with the panel presided over by Füsun Cemaller. The judge noted that aggravated bodily harm carries a life sentence under the law, demonstrating the seriousness of the offence.

According to the circumstances established by the court, İlkay, who was in Turkey, initially reached an agreement with Eminanç: in exchange for 500,000 TL, he was to shoot Keskin. Eminanç entered the TRNC as a tourist, received a pistol and 9 mm ammunition, and began monitoring the intended victim, but abandoned the attack due to disagreements over payment. İlkay then reached an agreement with Lermi, and Eminanç handed the weapon and ammunition over to him.

During the day, Lermi shot Keskin in the back of his right leg with a Glock pistol, right inside the restaurant dining hall. The victim underwent emergency surgery at Dr Burhan Nalbantoğlu State Hospital, after which he was placed in intensive care. Lermi was arrested at Ercan Airport that same day while attempting to leave the island.

Judge Barkın stressed that both defendants are Turkish nationals and that both came to the TRNC as tourists for the purpose of committing this crime. According to her, aggravated bodily harm and offences involving illegal weapons are becoming increasingly widespread, while residents of the TRNC have begun to fear for their lives and property.

“The rise in violent crime and the decline in safety on our streets are a source of sorrow and concern,” the judge said. The difference in the sentences was explained by the defendants’ respective roles: Eminanç withdrew from the attack and merely handed over the weapon, while Lermi was the one who fired. Time spent in detention was taken into account when setting the sentences.