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Spaniards consider plea to release Briton
Page 20
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THE FOREIGN OFFICE (F0) says efforts to secure the early release of British truck driver Steven Topless, who is in a Spanish jail following a disputed drugs conviction, are awaiting approval from Spain's justice department.
It is now two months since Europe Minister Douglas Alex ander submitted an official plea for clemency, but the Spanish have yet to reply officially.
The FO only makes pleas for clemency where it believes there has been a serious miscarriage of justice. Topless was convicted after 440kg of cannabis was found in his trailer, But British police, who had been following Topless, had clear evidence that he had no knowledge of the drugs. They tried to pass this evidence on to a Spanish court but it was ruled inadmissible and he was convicted, Steven Jakobi, director of Fair Trials Abroad, which has highlighted Topless' plight, believes that with luck Topless should be released this year