EU must act to stop Symeou injustice (Ilford North Liberal Democrats)

Ilford North Liberal Democrats <dominic247@btinternet.com>

EU must act to stop Symeou injustice

January 26, 2010 3:01 PM
Originally published by Sarah Ludford MEP

Sarah Ludford protesting against Andrew Symeou's incarceration outside the Greek embassy in London

Commenting on the news that Andrew Symeou, a Londoner imprisoned in Greece for the last 6 months while awaiting trial, has been refused bail for the third time, Liberal Democrat European justice & human rights spokeswoman and London MEP Sarah Ludford said:

"The arguments of the Greek judges defy logic. Having denied Andrew bail twice on the discriminatory grounds that he is a foreigner, although he had a temporary family home address in Greece, they are justifying bail refusal by claiming he 'may commit a crime' for which there is absolutely no basis."

"European justice - and the individuals suffering anything but justice - are paying the price for the failure of EU governments over the last decade to accompany the European Arrest Warrant with a programme of defence rights including 'Euro-bail', so that all EU citizens have the same rights wherever they may be."

"Disgracefully, the decision was delivered to Andrew by fax, in Greek with no English translation provided, and a prison guard had to relay the content of the decision to him. This is shoddy behaviour for an EU member state."

"As author of the European Parliament's report on a proposed EU legal measure to the right to translation and interpretation, I am fighting for all European citizens to be given the right to hear and receive court proceedings in their own language. There can be no fair trial if a defendant does not understand his or her own trial."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Andrew Symeou, 21, from Enfield, was extradited to Greece under a European Arrest Warrant in July of last year on a flawed manslaughter charge. Greek authorities' case against Andrew is built on mistaken identity, conflicting evidence and a bungled police investigation involving the brutal intimidation of witnesses. In December of last year Andrew was transferred from a young offender's institution to maximum security Korydallos prison, reported by Amnesty to be one of the worst prisons in Europe.