Nick Baker - British citizen needs fair trial in Japan

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Wed 9th Apr 2003

Baroness Sarah Ludford, London's Liberal Democrat MEP and European Parliament spokeswoman on Justice and Home Affairs for the Liberal group, has again raised Nick Baker's case with the Foreign Office.

Nick Baker was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking in Japan in April 2002. He has since been in Japanese custody and has been held in solitary confinement for 10 months. Sarah Ludford MEP first took up Nick's case in October last year when, working with Nick's mother, Mrs Iris Baker, and Fair Trials Abroad, she raised the matter with Japan's Ambassador to the EU and with Foreign Secretary Jack Straw.

Sarah believes Nick to have been unjustly accused, and is concerned that the Japanese authorities have declined to request from the Belgium judicial authorities compelling evidence that may prove his innocence. This is that his travel companion at the time, who duped him into taking through customs a suitcase containing drugs, has since been arrested in Belgium on a similar suspicion. Nick's judgement is due on 12th June and the prosecution have recommended a 15 year jail term and fine of £27,000 (5,000,000 yen).

Said Sarah:

"I believe that by considering the correct evidence the Japanese courts could be as persuaded as I am of Nick's innocence.

"The Foreign Office have a duty to satisfy themselves of Nick's welfare and to work with his legal team and the Japanese authorities to ensure that all evidence that could show his innocence will be heard in court.

"I am very concerned that the prosecutor demanded a 15 year prison sentence for Nick. I urge the judges to reopen the case before they hand down their verdict in June 2003.

"I sincerely hope that they do this otherwise Nick's fate will quite rightly be on all of our consciences."