A man who was arrested after he presented a stolen passport at the Paphos airport was staying in the country illegally, police said on Tuesday.

The suspect arrived at Paphos airport on Tuesday to board a flight to France. However, suspicions were raised during passport control, because he did not look like the photo on the German passport he presented, Paphos police deputy chief Michalis Ioannou told the Cyprus News Agency.

The passport was genuine, but it did not belong to him, the officer explained.

Further investigation showed the person had submitted a political asylum application on March 16, 2022, which he withdrew later that year on December 19.

He has since been residing in the territory of the Republic of Cyprus illegally, Ioannou noted.