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UK: Lofti Raissi can claim damages, but still no apology (1)

01 August 2008

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In February the Court of Appeal ruled that Loft Raissi (33), the pilot falsely accused of training the 11 September attackers and consequently detained in jail for five months, is entitled to claim damages. The court's ruling overturns the Home Office's refusal to consider his case on technical grounds - because Lofti was the subject of a US extradition warrant, the UK Home Office claims that is not responsible for his imprisonment. The Appeal Court judges said that the evidence suggested that the police and prosecution were responsible for serious faults in detaining him. Lord Justice Hooper said:

"The public labelling of the appellant as a terrorist by the authorities in this country, and particularly by the CPS [Crown Prosecution Service], over a period of many months has had and continues to have...a devastating effect on his life and health."

In November 2007 Lofti's brother, Mohammed, won a compensation award against the Metropolitan police over his arrest and detention for 42 hours. In Mohammed's case Mr Justice McComb said that the reasons for his arrest went no further than the family relationship and "In my judgement those grounds were not sufficient to justify his arrest." Lofti Raissi's wife, Sonia, had her claim for damages for being held for five days rejected by the High Court. Lofti says: "They [the police and Home Office] destroyed my life, they destroyed my career. For this I will never, ever forgive them." His wrongful arrest has left him blacklisted as a pilot and unable to work. He added:

"Surely I can now expect to hear from the Home Secretary with the long-awaited apology".

As Lord Justice Hooper put it:

"He considers that, unless he receives a public acknowledgment that he is not a terrorist, he will be unable to get his life back together again."

However, a Home Office spokesman said: "We are considering the implications and whether or not to appeal".

BBC News 30.11.08, 14.2.08

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