Andrew Symeou transferred to infamous maximum security prison

December 02 2009

For Immediate Release

British student Andrew Symeou (from Enfield) has been transferred to the infamous Korrydalos prison, condemned by the European Court of Human Rights for its inhumane and degrading treatment of inmates. Andrew, who was told only five minutes before to prepare for the transfer, is reportedly highly distraught.

Jago Russell, Chief Executive of Fair Trials International, said:

“Andrew Symeou should never have been extradited to Greece on the basis of fabricated evidence and a flawed police investigation. He has already been in jail for four months with no opportunity to clear him name. We are horrified that this young man has today been transferred to this infamous prison, and have grave concerns for his welfare.”

Despite serious flaws in the case against him, in July of this year British courts ordered his extradition to Greece under a European Arrest Warrant. Andrew, who has been twice refused bail on the grounds that he is not a Greek national, will now be held in a maximum security prison.

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Notes to editors

Prison Transfer

Andrew was today transferred from a Young Offenders Institution to Korydallos prison, a maximum security facility, having recently turned 21 years of age. Previously described by Amnesty as the worst prison in Europe, last year a British man, David Daubney, was found dead in Korydallos prison. The European Court of Human Rights, in a 2001 judgement, condemned the prison conditions at Korydallos as being degrading and inhumane.

Denial of Bail and Discrimination on Grounds of Nationality

The investigating magistrate on the Greek Island of Zante denied Andrew Symeou’s first application for bail on 27 July 2009 on the grounds that he has no permanent address in Greece. Andrew filed an appeal against this decision which was not decided until 14 September 2009, leaving Andrew behind bars for a further two months without a review of his pre-trial detention.

On appeal, the Judicial Council in Zante decided to deny Andrew bail as he is not a Greek resident. The Council also decided to refer the case to trial, however the reasoning provided in the judgement makes it clear that none of the defence arguments were considered by the panel and they made the decision to refer the case to trial on the basis of the prosecution’s submissions alone.

It took one month for Greek authorities to deliver the latest bail decision, which was given to Andrew in prison directly, despite requests for a copy to be given to Andrew’s lawyer.

Further reading:

Read more about Andrew’s case.
Read about other cases of injustice involving the European Arrest Warrant.