UK BACKPACKER IN KOTA JAIL GETS REPRIEVE

THE TIMES OF INDIA - RAO JASWANT SINGH

A UK backpacker, who was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment a few years back for possessing drugs, was given permission by the Union home ministry to serve the remaining term in UK as he has fallen ill.

Thirtythree year-old Patrick Malluzzo from Kent, has been serving the sentence in Kota jail with charges of possessing cannabis after he was arrested at Mumbai airport in 2004.

Patrick's parents and Fair Trials International, a UK based NGO, had been working on his case since 2007. In February 2010, Rajasthan High Court had rejected Patrick's appeal to overturn his conviction.