Clarke in clear says Customs
Page 8
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
by Karen Miles
• The drugs trial in Spain of British owner-driver Roy Clarke took an unusual legal twist last week as UK customs stepped in to help his defence.
A British customs official flew to Spain to tell the Malaga court that UK investigations into a cross-border drugs gang had led them to believe that Clarke was innocent.
Nine UK citizens had been charged in connection with the investigation and are due to stand trial next month, the official said.
Clarke was arrested 20 months ago near Malaga with two and a half tonnes of cannabis stuffed into his load of concrete pipes. Since then he has been held in a Spanish jail protesting his innocence, saying he did not know the £10m consignment of drugs was on board.
Some 30 defence witnesses are expected to testify for Clarke. Following last week's adjournment the trial will continue on 6 October, probably for another day.
The verdict is expected two weeks after. If found innocent Clarke could be home in Surrey within two days. A conviction could mean up to 12 years in jail and massive fines: Clarke would be almost certain to appeal.
• Last month owner-driver John Harrower began four years in a French jail after being found guilty of attempting to smuggle cannabis.
Lawyer Stephen Jakobi of pressure group Fair Trials Abroad says that in the past 18 months up to 20 European drivers have been jailed in similar circumstances.
At last week's Trades Union Congress conference the United Road Transport Union called for legal aid to be supplied to British citizens abroad and for the Government to set up reciprocal systems to allow foreigners to be allowed home on bail while waiting for trial.