Bulgarian National Faces Allegations Of Possession Of Credit Card Skimming Equipment At Cayman Airport

By Alric Lindsay

Halid Yuksel Aptula, a Bulgarian national, appeared in the Summary Court today, July 9, 2026, for a mention of four allegations related to possession of equipment for credit card skimming and possession of a card which was not in his name.  Aptula did not enter any pleas today and, instead, requested a Goodyear hearing to determine the maximum sentence that the court would impose if Aptula decided to plead guilty.

Regarding the allegations, court documents stated that Aptula arrived on Cayman Airways KX603 from Kingston, Jamaica, in June 2026. After being pulled from the “nothing to declare” channel for secondary search, Customs & Border Control officers found electronic cords and a card-reading device, then a card holder with a card not in his name.

When questioned about the items, Aptula reportedly said it was “for my girlfriend back home,” and that the reader “is used to give discounts.”

His backpack held a laptop and a black rectangular speaker that appeared altered; X-ray showed foreign items inside the speaker.

Aptula explained the presence of the items saying they were tools for his work.

Aptula  was cautioned and arrested for suspicion of smuggling.

Aptula was held at the Cayman Islands Detention Centre and, with his attorney Amelia Fosuhene, declined to be interviewed and submitted a prepared statement.

While no admissions were made, the specific charges of possession of articles for use to defraud that he faces in court include the following:

** An electronic credit card reader (x2)

**  Various electronic credit card skimming devices not covered by the above

**  An International Asset Bank card not in his name

Prior to entering any pleas today, Aptula’s attorney asked the court for a Goodyear hearing to determine what would be the maximum sentence Aptula would face if he pled guilty.

After discussion, the Goodyear hearing was scheduled for later this month.

Note to readers

The allegations faced by Aptula are contrary to s.283A of the Penal Code (2026 Revision). This states:

A Possession, etc. of articles for use to defraud

283A. A person who has in that person’s possession or under that person’s control any article for use to defraud commits an offence and is liable —

(a) on summary conviction, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding four years or to a fine not exceeding three thousand dollars or to both;

(b) on conviction on indictment, to imprisonment for a term not exceeding seven years or to a fine not exceeding five thousand dollars or to both.

Regarding Goodyear hearings, the Criminal Procedure Rules state that:

9(5) Upon the arraignment of an accused in the Grand Court or Summary Court, the court must —

(a) read the indictment or charge to the accused;

(b) explain, in terms the accused, if unrepresented, can understand (with help, if necessary); (i) the allegation; and (ii) what the procedure at the hearing will be;

(c) ask whether the accused has been advised (in keeping with R v Goodyear [2005] 1 WLR 2532) that he can request a sentence indication for a guilty plea; and

(d) ask whether the accused has been advised of the possible discount for a guilty plea.

(6) For the purposes of paragraph (5), the court should also enquire from the parties, whether at this stage, sufficient information has been provided about the prosecution’s case for the defendant to make an informed decision about the defendant’s plea and specifically to decide whether to offer an early plea of guilt.

For similar cases, please see our previous stories below: