Satpal Ram is Free - This is a Victory but not Vindication

At 7.00pm on Tuesday 18th June 2002, Satpal Ram walked through the prison gate of HMP Blantyre House, for the last time.

Satpal's conviction has not been quashed and though he is now out on licence, Satpal will continue to fight the conviction, that has kept him in prison since 1987.

It was a fight to the bitter end.

Threatened with legal action, that continued imprisonment of Satpal, was unlawful the Treasury Solicitor for the Home Office, threw in the towel last Thursday 13th June and said they would release Satpal.

All it needed to free Satpal, was two signatures, the Lord Woolf the Lord Chief Justice, put his signature to the paper on Friday 14th June. All it needed was the counter signature of a Home Office Minister, usually the prison minister would counter sign.

At this stage the Home Secretary David Blunkett, made a personal intervention and was more than reluctant to sign Satpal's release. He should have counter signed the release on Friday but didn't, which meant Satpal had to spend another weekend in prison.

Monday and Tuesday, numerous phone calls to Blunkett's office brought no joy, it was becoming clear that despite the advice of his own legal experts, Blunkett was stonewalling it.

Satpal's legal team, contacted the Treasury Solicitor again on Tuesday afternoon June 18th, who said they stood by their original decision, it was Blunkett, who was holding up the release, against their advice.

Now Satpal's solicitors, felt there was no option but to go back to court.

At 6.00pm Tuesday evening, Satpal's legal team were on their way to the High Court to apply for an order to release Satpal, when David Blunkett, conceded defeat and counter signed Satpal's, release papers.

The release papers were faxed to HMP Blantyre House and Satpal was released at 7.00pm.

Back ground to the last weeks events:

On the 27th October 2000 the Parole Board gave an unprecedented recommendation supporting the immediate release of Satpal Ram. However the then Home Secretary Jack Straw, refused to accept the recommendation and ordered that Satpal, should remain in prison.

Dennis Stafford's recent victory at the European Court of Human Rights has forced the present Home Secretary David Blunkett to reverse that decision. The ruling clearly stated that the continued detention by the Home Secretary, after the parole boards recommendation to release someone was illegal.

Satpal Ram's lawyer, Daniel Guedalla, said: "It does not mean they accept he is innocent and he is still challenging his wrongful conviction. This is a victory but not complete vindication. He is still on a life licence until his conviction is quashed. He lost 18 months or more of his liberty because of Jack Straw interfering."

Satpal's campaign to clear his name will continue after his release.

http://www.appleonline.net/satpal/

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