European Arrest Warrant (EAW) victims, Michael Turner and Jason McGoldrick have been released from jail on bail, but Andrew Symeou stays confined to his disgraceful Greek jail where he has been now, for over six months, almost fogotten, with no sight of a trial date or bail.
Let's remember that, if you are extradited under the EAW procedures, the extraditing judge is not allowed to examine the evidence, just check that the warrant is in order. A check of the evidence in either Mike and Jason's or Andrew's cases would, according to several organisations, have resulted in the warrant being thrown out. It needs saying over and over again, that we are inflicting draconian, almost third world, legislative procedures on British subjects and the Westminster government seems not to care about the victims, just about being seen as good "Europeans".
The Background to the case
Michael Turner (27) and Jason McGoldrick (37) are two hard working, tax paying, law abiding citizens of the UK. Neither have ever been in trouble with the police.
They have been extradited to Budapest to stand trial for fraud in Hungary.
They invested £100,000 in Hungary to set up a business in central Europes post socialist emerging markets. Due to difficult trading conditions the business folded, leaving creditor's to the sum of approximately 5.6 million Hungarian Forints (approx £18,000). Five years later, the Hungarian authorities decided to turn these creditor's into `victims`.
When Michael and Jason invested their time and money, Hungary was not even a member of the European community.
After joining and signing up to the 2003 European extradition treaty, they have issued a warrant for Michael and Jason to be extradited to Budapest accused of fraud.
The British justice system has rubber stamped this warrant even though it was not completed properly. They say they have to go along with it, because European politicians have directed them to fully co-operate and not to worry about details!
Michael and Jason's lawyers are convinced that in England it would be easy to show their innocence, but doubt that there is any chance of a fair trial in Hungary.
See also
BBC Briton freed from Hungary jail vows to clear name
Daily Mail British businessmen freed from Hungarian jail after being held for four months without charge From the Mail article:
The men's business - a timeshare company - collapsed in 2005.
Hungarian prosecutors used European arrest warrants to detain the men alleging the company's creditors were the victims of fraud.
But Mr Turner and his family have always protested his innocence.
Mr Turner senior, a pub landlord, said: 'These guys have never been charged with any crime, and been in prison. They're guys of great integrity who have never done anything wrong with their lives.
'They've not rushed on a plane and said let's get out of here, they want the opportunity to clear their names and deal with the Hungarian authorities.'
Mr Turner senior said the men were 'ecstatic' but 'confused' to be freed.
He said the men had not been treated well during their time in prison.
'I saw Michael on Thursday when I visited at prison, you can see both of them have their clothes hanging off them, like they've been in a concentration camp,' Mr Turner senior said.
'They're pale and malnourished. Michael has lost about three stone in weight - things you would expect to see in someone not looked after well.'