A Turkish soldier found wandering aimlessly on the island of Samos earlier this week must serve an eight-month sentence in a Greek jail after a court remained unconvinced by his claims of having no recollection of how he reached the island following a heavy drinking binge in the nearby Turkish port of Izmir.

The soldier presented himself to the Coast Guard three days after arriving on the island in a drunken stupor, according to the man’s own testimony.

He said all he remembered was that he had been drinking heavily in Izmir, where he had been based, and must have crossed the narrow strait separating mainland Turkey and Samos while still in a drunken stupor, although it was unclear how. The court was unconvinced by the soldier’s excuse and sentenced him to eight months in jail, after which he will be sent back to Turkey.