A WOEFUL TALE OF EU INJUSTICE THAT RISKS RUINING AN INNOCENT MAN

THE TELEGRAPH - CHRISTINA ODONE

The law is an ass, but European law is something even more dangerous. This fact was brought home this morning by the Today programme (listen to the 7.20am item). A clear case of stolen identity looks set to destroy an innocent man’s life – and under the European Arrest Warrant scheme, UK authorities will have to extradite him.

Edmond Arapi, an Albanian chef and legal resident, is married to a British woman with whom he has three children. He was accused, tried, and convicted – all in absentia - by an Italian court. His crime? The murder of an Italian citizen in Italy, on 26 October 2004.

But on 26 October, 2004, Arapi was working at a Café in Leek, Staffordshire – and he can prove it with an invoice signed by him.

Fair Trial International has condemned the scheme for its lack of judicial discretion. UK courts, instead of reviewing the evidence for each case of extradition, are “rubber-stamping” requests from EU countries.