The Unknown Man!
Posted: October 6th, 2006 | Author: Robyn Reed | Filed under: Uncategorized | No Comments »The Unknown Man to face Crown Court
On 23rd September 2006 a man was arrested on an allegation of having committed three burglaries at the same house in Carmarthenshire. He was unable to communicate his name or details and the police were not able to trace him on their computer system. He was kept in custody at the police station for an extended period whilst efforts were made to find a way to communicate with him, but to no avail.
Eventually he was charged with three counts of burglary and taken to the Llanelli Magistrates Court, but as he was unable to understand the proceedings the case was adjourned for seven days for further efforts to be made to establish which language he may speak.
There is a belief that he may come from a small community at the base of the Atlas Mountains called the Berber Tribe, as some of his writing has been seen.
When the case came back before the magistrates on 5th October 2006 very difficult issues were raised as to how to fairly conduct a trial when there is no interpreter, and it is impossible to establish the defendant’s mental health also.
The court decided that as the defendant could not be asked whether he wished for Crown or Magistrates Court Trial, the matter had to be sent to the Crown Court, and therefore the case was adjourned for a committal hearing on 2nd November.
Click here to see the BBC News article : Mystery prisoner baffles court’
The Unknown Man (Mr Ibrahimi) Speaks!
On the 19th of October, with the help of a Berber interpreter who came forward after seeing a photograph of the unknown man on the TV news, it was at last possible to communicate with our client who told us his name was Hassan Ibrahimi, aged 26, and we were able to obtain brief initial instructions from him.
The Unknown Man appeals against his sentence:
On the 17th of November 2006, the Llanelli magistrates sentenced Mr. Ibrahimi to four months imprisonment on each of the three burglary charges he faced, to run consecutively, making a total of twelve months. They also recommended deportation. Mr. Ibrahimi decided to lodge an immediate appeal against sentence to the Crown Court.
The Unknown Man wins his appeal:
On 22nd December 2006 the appeal against sentence was heard at Swansea Crown Court, and His Honour Judge Michael Burr allowed the appeal. He amended the sentence to a total of six months, enabling Mr Inbrahimi’s imminent release. However, he will then be subject to immigration procedures in relation to his asylum application.
The Judge remarked that he and the magistrates sitting with him had great sympathy for the defendant. They understood his background and particular circumstances. He was not a burglar in the ordinary sense of the word as he had “little option to find food and shelter.”
The court made no recommendation as to deportation.
