Tuesday, 21st July 2009

The House of Lords decision to refuse to hear Andrew Symeou's appeal against extradition has been branded "a disgraceful cop-out" by UKIP MEP Gerard Batten.

The Enfield student faces extradition to Greece to face a murder charge based on mistaken identity and a flawed police investigation.

An outraged Mr Batten, Andrew's UKIP MEP, who has been a strong campaigner on behalf of the young man said: "The decision of the House of Lords not to hear Andrew Symeou's appeal on the basis that 'it is not of public interest, is a shameful and disgraceful cop-out."

"Parents should remember that they are not interested in their children when they go on holiday to EU countries, because that is what the Lords are saying."

"In this case the Lords should have ruled on whether the mistreatment of witnesses and the manufacturing of evidence amounts to an abuse of process under the European Arrest Warrant.

"It certainly does under the Common Law, which is why the High Court referred the case to the Lords.

"By refusing to consider the appeal the House of Lords has washed it hands of the case in true Pontius Pilate-style. The highest court in the land is refusing to fullfill its most basic duty which is to protect the liberties of a citizen against unjust arrest and detention.

"This is political decision, not a legal one and marks the surrender of our legal system to that of the European Union."

A disappointed Frank Symeou, Andrew's father said: "On July 23rd, Andrew will be taken under police escort to Heathrow and handed over to Greek police who will fly him to Greece.  The next stage of this terrible ordeal will have begun with no one knowing how it will end.

"Logic dictates that the case will be thrown out before even going to trial, but for the past two years it seems logic and common sense has never played a part in these proceedings".

The Chief Executive of Fair Trials International, Jago Russell, who has been calling for the extradition order to be quashed and the charges dropped, said: “The case against Andrew Symeou is built on mistaken identity, conflicting evidence and a flawed police investigation.

"It is a tragedy that, despite this, the British courts have ordered this young man’s extradition to Greece where he could spend months in jail before his case is even heard by a court.”

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