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Parents' plea over jailed Briton | Parents' plea over jailed Briton |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The parents of a man in prison in India for drug-smuggling have taken their appeal for help to the Foreign Office. | The parents of a man in prison in India for drug-smuggling have taken their appeal for help to the Foreign Office. |
Former City worker Patrick Malluzzo, of Dartford, Kent, was given a 10-year jail term in 2004. His appeal has been adjourned 12 times in three months. | Former City worker Patrick Malluzzo, of Dartford, Kent, was given a 10-year jail term in 2004. His appeal has been adjourned 12 times in three months. |
Cannabis was found in a bag he had lent to a friend while travelling, but he has always maintained his innocence. | Cannabis was found in a bag he had lent to a friend while travelling, but he has always maintained his innocence. |
His parents met with Foreign Office officials to appeal for help from Foreign Secretary David Miliband. | His parents met with Foreign Office officials to appeal for help from Foreign Secretary David Miliband. |
Teresa Malluzzo, Mr Malluzzo's mother, said: "I want to be able to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas with all my family. | Teresa Malluzzo, Mr Malluzzo's mother, said: "I want to be able to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries and Christmas with all my family. |
"I want us to be reunited." | "I want us to be reunited." |
'Travesty of justice' | 'Travesty of justice' |
Fair Trials International said Mr Malluzzo was wrongly convicted and refused an interpreter during the trial in Rajasthan. | Fair Trials International said Mr Malluzzo was wrongly convicted and refused an interpreter during the trial in Rajasthan. |
Its chief executive, Jago Russell, said: "Patrick's conviction was a travesty of justice and although he has a right to an appeal under both Indian and international law he has waited years to clear his name. | Its chief executive, Jago Russell, said: "Patrick's conviction was a travesty of justice and although he has a right to an appeal under both Indian and international law he has waited years to clear his name. |
"We are urging the Foreign Secretary to help us persuade India finally to hear Patrick's case." | "We are urging the Foreign Secretary to help us persuade India finally to hear Patrick's case." |
Mr Malluzzo's parents have re-mortgaged the family home to help pay their legal bills. | Mr Malluzzo's parents have re-mortgaged the family home to help pay their legal bills. |
The Foreign Office told BBC London that consulate officials visited Mr Malluzzo on 19 November and a hearing was expected to take place on Tuesday. | The Foreign Office told BBC London that consulate officials visited Mr Malluzzo on 19 November and a hearing was expected to take place on Tuesday. |
Ann Widdecombe MP, a former shadow home secretary, wrote to the Chief Justice of Rajasthan earlier this year asking for Mr Malluzzo's appeal to be made "an absolute priority". | Ann Widdecombe MP, a former shadow home secretary, wrote to the Chief Justice of Rajasthan earlier this year asking for Mr Malluzzo's appeal to be made "an absolute priority". |
'Sleep deprivation' | 'Sleep deprivation' |
Mr Malluzzo was backpacking in India in 2004 when a friend took his bag from Rajasthan to Goa so he could travel light. | Mr Malluzzo was backpacking in India in 2004 when a friend took his bag from Rajasthan to Goa so he could travel light. |
The friend accidentally left three bags, including Mr Malluzzo's luggage, on a train. They were found to contain about 42 lbs (19kg) of cannabis resin. | The friend accidentally left three bags, including Mr Malluzzo's luggage, on a train. They were found to contain about 42 lbs (19kg) of cannabis resin. |
Mr Malluzzo claims the first he knew about it was when he was arrested at Mumbai airport as he tried to leave India. | Mr Malluzzo claims the first he knew about it was when he was arrested at Mumbai airport as he tried to leave India. |
He has maintained his innocence but claims he confessed after police burned him with cigarettes, beat him and subjected him to sleep deprivation. | He has maintained his innocence but claims he confessed after police burned him with cigarettes, beat him and subjected him to sleep deprivation. |
The prosecution at the trial, which was conducted only in Hindi, decided not to use the confessions. | The prosecution at the trial, which was conducted only in Hindi, decided not to use the confessions. |
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Jailed man's family appeal to Foreign Office | Jailed man's family appeal to Foreign Office |