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Greek tragedy

29th January 2004
Page 22
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Page 22, 29th January 2004 — Greek tragedy
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Tim Andrews was released in December after spending six months in a Greek jail for people trafficking. He talks to Jennifer Ball.

Tim Andrews savours his pint of John Smiths. He thought it would be a long time before he enjoyed that moment again. Andrews had resigned himself to 10 years in a Greek jail but just two weeks before Christmas he was unexpectedly released and is now readjusting to family life back in Britain.

-I never thought I'd spend Christmas here. It wouldn't have mattered if we'd had fishfingers and chips for dinner. I was just glad to be back with my family,says Andrews.

Nightmare scenario inghtmare began last July when the ownerdriver from Nottingham was arrested in Patras port after 14 illegal immigrants were found in his truck as he waited to board a ferry back to Italy. Andrews says: "They arrested me and were interviewing the illegals while I was in a holding cell. Only one of the stowaways told the police that I knew about them. I was interviewed without an interpreter and the police officer spoke little English."

Andrews protested his innocence but was told by a Greek lawyer that if he changed his plea he would receive a smaller fine and be deported. so he pleaded guilty at the trial. "I almost fainted when the judge gave me a €250,000 tine [172.593] and sentenced me to 10 years' imprisonment. Half an hour later I was on my way to prison. I was chucked in a cell occupied by Arabs.There were a couple of Turkish truck drivers who had tried to smuggle immigrants. as well as murderers, rapists and drug dealers.

Andrews claims that he saw no Greek inmates because the Greek justice system receives €250 (£172) a day for every foreign prisoner. so concentrates on them. Conditions in the prison were "appalling and even lit for a dog," he says.

"Greece is supposed to be the father of democracy but the only democracy they have is their own if you can give them some money At night I would watch the cockroaches crawl across the floor and my bed. If it wasn't for being able to buy extra food from the prison canteen once a week,! would have wasted away. In six months I lost over two stone and most of my teeth due to vitamin deficiency.

Andrews appreciates that he was the lucky one among hundreds of truck drivers imprisoned abroad, many of whom are innocent. But he is angry at the way the British government

I a most ainted

sentence me to -17

10 years impnsonmen

appeared to ignore his plight."! received one visit from the Consulate when I was first imprisoned.The British Embassy came to see me two weeks before I was released.

"The official commented that I looked well but he had never clapped eyes on me before that day. In my opinion, all they're out there for is an extended foreign holiday. The Foreign Office in London did give my wife more support."

But he is quick to praise his friends, family and the trucking community for all their support. His wife Sue and daughter Fiona spent weeks campaigning for his release: "I have also had tremendous backing from the haulage industry. One Scottish driver whom I have never met sent me a Christmas card and cheque towards my legal costs."

After six months of fighting and having his bail hearing postponed twice due to the Greek lawyers going on strike. Andrews' case was finally heard in the Court of Appeal. On 4 December, the judge reduced his jail-term to a 13-month suspended sentence and a €250 (£172) fine.

But that wasn't the end of Andrews' plight. After being released from jail he was taken to a police station while the necessary paperwork was found. allowing him to be deported. This took more than 18 hours: "When they eventually let me out a Greek friend came and picked me up and took me to a local hotel where we stayed for two nights until we could get a flight home. The first thing I did was have a long hot shower and a Jack Daniels."

The reunion with his family back in England was undoubtedly an emotional one. It is the first time my daughter has given me a hug since she was five.he adds.

So is Andrews planning on going back to driving'? "It's all I know and I am looking for a job. But I won't be going back to international work — I love my wife more than my job," he smiles. •


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