Forum Topic

Uk citizen extradited to US refused bail...

This makes me very angry. 65 year old businessman, alledgedly involved in exporting stuff to Iran, extradited to US, free until he gets on the plane on 25th Feb, in custody since, court appearance in a yellow jump suit (a la that place in Cuba) shackelled, and denied bail. His wife blames Mr Cameron, why are our extradition rules so biased to the US? PS Don't know if he is innocent or guilty but like the hacking guy it does not seem right! http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17266000

Iain Muir ● 5308d19 Comments

Heard his lawyer on 5Live last night who says they are appealing his current imprisonment - which does seem daft - why would he get on the plane in the first place if he was going to abscond?He seemed hopefull that would happen quite quickly.

Sara Nathan ● 5308d

What is worrying is that, even if he's found not guilty, it will have cost him everything he's worked for all his life to pay his legal expenses.

Susan Kelly ● 5308d

It's a shocking story.  He has fewer rights than an illegal immigrant.Once again, this injustice is thanks to Tony Blair.

Sarah Harris ● 5308d

Yes, I feel sorry for him and his family. Why on earth do the American's consider it necessary to shackle their 'criminals'? I am still at a lose to understand how he can be considered a 'danger to the community'. He hasn't - as far as we know - killed anyone, or held people hostage at knifepoint, or raped anyone, so why is he a danger? American law - I do not understand it at all.

Amanda Knights ● 5308d

They probably shackle their criminals as a message of control and to belittle the criminal.Also it covers most bases in case he or she escapes.It may be a good idea here in view of the escapes from prison transpot vans that have taken place.

Keith Iddon ● 5308d

The troubling thing about this treaty is that the Yanks don't have to provide any evidence. They merely say that they think a British person has committed a crime and demand their extradition. Kafka would find it a bit far-fetched.

Susan Kelly ● 5308d

On the other hand the last big case - the NatWest 3 - they were convicted and there doesnt seem to be a huge debate about whether that was reasonable - so maybe it was.Isn't the current chap an arms dealer? Bit of a murky trade...

Sara Nathan ● 5307d

I had cause to look at the indictment today; it'll take a johnny cochrane to disentangle him from this one!http://www.investigativeproject.org/documents/case_docs/1923.pdf

T Beme ● 5307d

These people may be guilty as charged but that doesn't alter the fact that a) the Yanks don't have to produce any evidence against people they want extradited and b) you have to spend your life savings fighting it, which they take as a sign of guilt.

Susan Kelly ● 5307d

Oh I agree and our government should be much less spineless - not about allowing extradition under the existing treaty - but about renegotiating ASAP. It's wholly one-sided. But it's our politicians who have allowed this to happen - you cant blame the Americans for getting the best and most advantageous deal they can.

Sara Nathan ● 5307d

Why are we still in this one-sided treaty?

Philippa Bond ● 5306d

The Yanks rule the world.  Why do they always need our help to fight wars?Don't people realise that if the Yanks don't get their own way, they start crying and calling for mummy, or any other gullible government that will pander to them.

Nicola Howard ● 5306d

And they have all those poor people who can't afford healthcare...

Philippa Bond ● 5306d

I think you should be a bit more even handed about being in wars with the Americans.There are many thousands of them buried in Europe and the Far East and they helped greatly,along with the Russians and us in stopping the world plunging into a dark age of tyranny.If the Germans and Japanese had truimphed do you tink we would be sat in our comfy little homes now having a bourgeouis little exchange like this?If it hadn't been for Britain's influence in the Korean war,the Americans were all for dropping an nuclear bomb in Korea.

Keith Iddon ● 5306d

Wasn't referring to Korea or WWII or China.It just seems that every-time the Yanks sneeze, our gutless politicians get out the Kleenex.  If the Yanks want to go around beating everyone up, why not leave us out of it for a change.Another point.  It has come to light that our beloved Home Secretary has lost yet another extradition case, (three on the trot)three Algerian terrorists are now allowed to stay in this country, curtsey of the Supreme Court.  Is this country becoming a breading ground for terrorists and, how long before we become a full time training ground?  Just chuck them out and to hell with the Supreme and EU courts.

Nicola Howard ● 5306d

Surely you are not equating the Supreme Court and the EU ones.They are really quite different.If you diss the Supreme Court just like that - you might as well hold the whole judicial system in contempt. And many - including a vast number of foreign litigants - would disagree with that - they flcok here because they think our judicial system fab.(Am no longer appointing Judges so can say what I like!)

Sara Nathan ● 5306d

Shame.  If you were, we may get the right ones.

Nicola Howard ● 5306d

Done it for six years and appointing some cracking ones...and some yet to be announced.But these are the guys you are dissing. (except I never got to do the Supreme Court) Did do Appeal Court but only once...and not very effectively.

Sara Nathan ● 5306d

Nicola,The Americans don't drag us into these conflicts.We readily joined them in Iraq(twice) and Afghanistan.The vreasons why are obvious.

Keith Iddon ● 5306d