Ahead of bail hearing, AgustaWestland scam accused Christian Michel on hunger strike in Tihar | India News – Rashtra News : Rashtra News
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AgustaWestland chopper scam accused British national Christian Michel, who is lodged in the Tihar Jail, began a hunger strike on Thursday saying this is his only way to get his voice heard as he called on the British government to intervene in his case.
In yet another bid to secure his release, ahead of a bail hearing on December 2, Michel’s family on Friday released extracts from a hand-written letter dated October 5 by the 61-year-old to UK prime minister Boris Johnson, in which he states he will go on hunger strike on November 25 unless the UK applies sanctions against the individuals and entities involved in the alleged abduction of Princess Latifa, daughter of Dubai’s ruler, on March 4, 2018. Michel, who is accused of paying bribes to Indian officials to secure defence deals, claims his extradition from Dubai to India was quid pro pro for the handing over by India of Latifa to the Dubai authorities. “I am refusing to sign a false confession in exchange for my freedom,” his letter adds.
Aljo Joseph, Michel’s Delhi lawyer, told this reporter: “He has been in custody for three years and yet, if convicted, the maximum sentence he would face is five or seven years, so he has already undergone 50% of his sentence. There still has not been any trial as the investigation is not complete and yet every other person accused was given bail immediately. So, why such discrimination?” He pointed out that the UN working group on arbitrary detention had asked for Michel’s release. “He wants the British police to investigate the abduction of Latifa’s sister, Princess Shamsa, in Cambridge in 2000,” he added.
In a high-wattage emotional pitch, Michel’s wife Valerie, in France, said it was not safe for her family to visit him. “We are worried for his physical and mental health and my children are growing with no father. We would like the British government to demand India and Dubai apply the UN resolution that he is released,” she said.
Her son Alois added: “The UN decision gave us hope and yet still his trial is not happening.”
In yet another bid to secure his release, ahead of a bail hearing on December 2, Michel’s family on Friday released extracts from a hand-written letter dated October 5 by the 61-year-old to UK prime minister Boris Johnson, in which he states he will go on hunger strike on November 25 unless the UK applies sanctions against the individuals and entities involved in the alleged abduction of Princess Latifa, daughter of Dubai’s ruler, on March 4, 2018. Michel, who is accused of paying bribes to Indian officials to secure defence deals, claims his extradition from Dubai to India was quid pro pro for the handing over by India of Latifa to the Dubai authorities. “I am refusing to sign a false confession in exchange for my freedom,” his letter adds.
Aljo Joseph, Michel’s Delhi lawyer, told this reporter: “He has been in custody for three years and yet, if convicted, the maximum sentence he would face is five or seven years, so he has already undergone 50% of his sentence. There still has not been any trial as the investigation is not complete and yet every other person accused was given bail immediately. So, why such discrimination?” He pointed out that the UN working group on arbitrary detention had asked for Michel’s release. “He wants the British police to investigate the abduction of Latifa’s sister, Princess Shamsa, in Cambridge in 2000,” he added.
In a high-wattage emotional pitch, Michel’s wife Valerie, in France, said it was not safe for her family to visit him. “We are worried for his physical and mental health and my children are growing with no father. We would like the British government to demand India and Dubai apply the UN resolution that he is released,” she said.
Her son Alois added: “The UN decision gave us hope and yet still his trial is not happening.”
( News Source :Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Rashtra News staff and is published from a timesofindia.indiatimes.com feed.)
