Extradition to Japan refused

Senior District Judge Goldspring discharged Mr Wright, the Requested Person in a case which is part of the first extradition request from Japan.

Extradition of Mr Wright’s co-accused, Mr Chappell, had been refused by the SDJ on human rights grounds in an earlier hearing. In Mr Wright’s case, the Japanese authorities returned to court with a series of assurances to address the points on which extradition had been refused in the earlier case. After an extensive hearing, SDJ Goldspring refused extradition on the grounds that the assurances did not remove the real risk of inhuman treatment contrary to Article 3.

The case addressed detailed arguments on forced labour, solitary confinement, length of pre-trial detention and the presence of lawyer at the police interview stage.

The Government of Japan’s appeal is to be heard in October. This will be a test case consideration of the human rights objections to all extraditions to Japan. 

Edward Fitzgerald KC, leading Sam-Blom Cooper of 25 Bedford Row, represented Mr Wright, instructed by Keshina Bouri of Russell Cooke.