George Hepburne Scott of UK Extradition Lawyer is instructed in what is understood to be the first ever extradition request from the Government of Japan. This case involves the Tokyo Harry Winston £1M Jewellery Heist in 2015.
George’s client is accused with others of carrying out the notorious robbery. The case is scheduled for hearings throughout 2022.
On 2 December 2021 a district judge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court discharged George’s client and refused the extradition request from the Kingdom of Thailand.
This was the culmination of months of work and an extradition hearing lasting 5 days earlier in the year. George and his team had gathered and refined 1,000’s of pages of evidence to challenge the Thai extradition request.
The client, a British citizen, had been accused of providing financial advice without a licence over a period of several years.
The Thai Government later confirmed that it was not appealing the judgment.
Stunning victory for George Hepburne-Scott in an Extradition case on 1 June 2021 at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
In the case of Italy v B.T. the defendant was discharged by a District Judge following a fully contested extradition hearing.
The defendant B.T. had been convicted of mafia offences in Sicily in 2000-2003 for which he had received a sentence of 7 years and 10 months.
B.T. had been discovered living in the United Kingdom in 2020 and arrested on a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Sicilian Court. In the extradition hearing that followed, George led the legal team that fought extradition.
On 1 June 2021, a district judge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court gave judgment in B.T.’s favour on Article 8 and he was discharged and released from custody.
On Friday 8 January 2021, George Hepburne-Scott was name-checked by Lord Morris in a House of Lords debate on extradition. Lord Morris quoted George Hepburne-Scott when putting a question on extradition to the relevant UK Government Home Office Minister.
See the link at 2:27pm for the Parliament’s official record, Hansard, where George is named.
We shall continue to contribute to the national discussion on extradition matters.
On 28 November 2019, George Hepburne Scott appeared before Farbey J on an extradition appeal. He was appealing an extradition order made by a district judge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.
Having heard and read legal argument and submissions, Farbey J quashed the order for extradition on Article 8 grounds.
The Judge also observed that she would have also quashed the order on s.14 and proportionality grounds.
The case is reported here:
On 22 October 2020, following lengthy legal argument, in the case of Romania v G-A.P, George secured the discharge and immediate release of his client by successfully opposing the Romanian Judicial Authority’s application to adjourn to secure an assurance re prison conditions. In the absence of that assurance District Judge Bristow discharged the requested person under s.21 of the 2003 Act. George had relied upon the Divisional Court case of Adamescu v Romania [2020] EWHC 2709 (Admin), Article 17 of the European Council Decision re EAW’s, the Criminal Practice Direction 50.A and Criminal Procedure Rules 50.2.
On 12 October 2020, following a full extradition hearing, in the case of Poland v M.N. George’s client was discharged on a Polish EAW alleging possession of amphetamine and cannabis. The client was discharged on the basis of s.21A proportionality following legal submissions at the extradition hearing. George was instructed in this case by Magdalena Motyl of Bark & Co Solicitors.
On 11 September 2020, in the case of Belgium v SH, George’s client, an Albanian national, was sensationally discharged on an extradition request from Belgium alleging triple-murder. The client was discharged following complex legal argument regarding reopening the identity issue after the initial hearing. On this occasion the client was discharged by District Judge Goldspring.
On 4 September 2020, in the case of Greece v RK, George secured the discharge of his client at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on a Greek EAW this one alleging large scale drug trafficking. The client was an Irish National. On this occasion the Deputy Chief Magistrate of England and Wales discharged George’s client.
On 25 August 2020, in the case of Greece v AS, George secured the discharge of his client at Westminster Magistrates’ Court again on a Greek EAW alleging cannabis cultivation. George’s client was an Albanian national. District Judge Ezzat discharged George’s client on this occasion.
On 24 August 2020, in the case of Hungary v TK, George secured a discharge of his client at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on a Hungarian EAW relating to multiple thefts from employer. George’s client was a Hungarian national. District Judge Snow discharged George’s client on s.10 grounds on this occasion.
On 22 March 2021, George Hepburne Scott’s client, P.T. was discharged by a District Judge at Westminster Magistrates’ Court following a contested extradition hearing earlier in the month. At the hearing, the defence team led by George Hepburne Scott had raised issues under the Extradition Act 2003 as follows: s.2 (was Poland to still be considered a judicial authority, s.14 (passage of time), s.20 (trial in absence), and Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights.
Ultimately, the District Judge discharged R.T. purely on Article 8 grounds on the basis on the nature of the offending, the age of the offending (18 years old) and the impact of extradition upon P.T. and his wife.
George Hepburne Scott commented: ‘an incredibly satisfying result which serves to underline the importance of raising every single objection that you properly can in fighting extradition requests.’
On Friday 26 February 2021, Mr Hepburne Scott’s client was triumphantly discharged on the European Arrest Warrant that he faced for a historical conviction in Poland.
Following a fully contested hearing and complex legal argument, District Judge Rimmer ruled in favour of Mr Hepburne Scott’s client and rejected Poland’s claim for extradition on Article 8 grounds. The client was naturally overjoyed.
On 18 March 2021, George Hepburne Scott’s client, B.F, an Antiguan national, was sensationally discharged from his extradition proceedings at Westminster Magistrates Court following a contested case.
B.F. had been arrested at Gatwick airport on 20th January 2020. He was arrested on provisional warrant issued by the National Crime Agency under s.74(B) of the Extradition Act 2003 pursuant to an Interpol Red Notice issued by the USA.
The allegation was that B.F. had committed an offence of possession of a firearm (.32 calibre revolver loaded with two .32 calibre rounds), had been bailed in New York and then, 24 January 1991, failed to appear at his hearing.
The extradition proceedings had then commenced at Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Upon further examination by the defence team led by George Hepburne Scott, it transpired that the Red Notice was not applied for until 4 February 2015, some 24 years after the US domestic warrant was issued.
This gave rise to powerful arguments that the passage of time and culpable delay had fundamentally undermined the extradition request: B.K.’s life had profoundly changed in the period; He had led a blameless life including having been employed as a police officer in Antigua.
The defence therefore made repeated and powerful representations to the relevant US District Attorney in New York through the Crown Prosecution Service International Justice and Organised Crime Division. This persistence finally paid off when the US confirmed on 17 March 2021 that it was no longer pursuing the case against B.F. and he was sensationally discharged and released on 18 March 2021.
George Hepburne Scott commented: “we are delighted with yet another stunning extradition victory and will continue to ruthlessly defend our clients with all reasonable force and utilising all legal means at our disposal“.
On 24 August 2020, in the case of Hungary v TK, George secured a discharge of his client at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on a Hungarian EAW relating to multiple thefts from employer. George’s client was a Hungarian national. District Judge Snow discharged George’s client on this occasion.
On 25 August 2020, in the case of Greece v AS, George secured the discharge of his client at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on a Greek EAW alleging cannabis cultivation. George’s client was an Albanian national. District Judge Ezzat discharged George’s client on this occasion.
On 4 September 2020, in the case of Greece v RK, George secured the discharge of his client at Westminster Magistrates’ Court again on a Greek EAW this one alleging large scale drug trafficking. The client was an Irish National. On this occasion the Deputy Chief Magistrate of England and Wales discharged George’s client.
On 11 September 2020, in the case of Belgium v SH, George’s client, an Albanian national, was sensationally discharged on a Belgian EAW alleging triple-murder. The client was discharged following complex legal argument regarding reopening the identity issue after the initial hearing. On this occasion the client was discharged by District Judge Goldspring.
George is a highly-experienced, effective and well-respected specialist extradition barrister.
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* George Hepburne-Scott is a practising Barrister, based at Church Court Chambers, who acts as a fully regulated, insured, and licenced Direct Access Barrister and also as instructed counsel in Extradition cases.
