BBC: Straw raises Portugal lawyer case
December 04 2009Justice Secretary Jack Straw has taken up the case of a London woman facing a possible jail sentence in Portugal after complaining about a lawyer.
Serena Wylde, 58, from Putney, south London, complained to the Portugese regulator about an Algarve lawyer who was dealing with a property dispute.
As a result Mrs Wylde was charged with aggravated criminal defamation.
Mr Straw said he had discussed the case with Portuguese State Secretary Jose Magalhaes and will "follow it up".
Confidential' complaint
Mrs Wylde inherited a house in the Algarve and became involved in a dispute with her Portugese neighbours about the erection of a gate in 2005.
She told BBC London that the case was settled out of court but her neighbours' lawyer continued to pursue the matter.
Mrs Wylde complained about the lawyer to Portugese regulatory body Ordem dos Advogados, in what she thought was a confidential letter.
But the body sent her letter to the Portugese Regulatory Authority, which said the complaint was unfounded and the lawyer was legally entitled to defend his good name.
Mrs Wylde is due to stand trial in the Algarve charged with aggravated criminal defamation. If found guilty she could face more than six months in prison.
The lawyer is also seeking 50,000 euros (£45,500) in compensation.
Speaking in Brussels, Mr Straw said he used the case as an example of why close cross-border co-operation in justice and home affairs issues was crucial in Europe.
He said: "Nobody asked me to intervene - I just raised it because I saw a news item on television about the situation and decided to pursue it."
Mr Straw said the case was just one example where co-operation agreements in Europe could enable one government to intervene if they felt other national justice systems were not functioning properly.
"British citizens want better and more effective rights across Europe," he said.
Jago Russell, Chief Executive of Fair Trials International, said: "Serena Wylde should never have been threatened with a prison sentence for writing a confidential letter to a regulator.
"This shocking prosecution flies in the face of free speech and with Jack Straw's support we hope these charges will be dropped."