Planespotters being denied return of bail money

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 4th Nov 2003

Sarah Ludford MEP is pictured with the Planespotters, family members and supporters in Kalamata following their acquittal in November 2002

Nearly a year after being acquitted of espionage the group of planespotters arrested in Greece two years ago are still owed their bail money of nearly £10,000 each.

London's Euro-MP and LibDem European justice spokeswoman Baroness Sarah Ludford MEP was at the appeal hearing in Kalamata last year and says now:

"The Greek authorities already held the money of these innocent people for six months after the acquittal, in case the prosecutor appealed. But they should have returned the money promptly and in full last May.

"Instead it has become embroiled in a dispute over fees between defence lawyers. But the planespotters' right to have their money returned should not be held hostage to a lawyers' squabble.

"The Greek authorities are, however inadvertently, prolonging the suffering of innocent people through this tragi-farce. It does nothing to restore the credibility of the Greek legal system."

Sarah Ludford MEP campaigned to support the planespotters throughout the case both in her capacity as justice spokeswoman and as MEP for several of the defendants living in the London area.

Earlier this year Sarah Ludford raised her concerns on this matter with Jack Straw and the Greek Authorities. She is pursuing this matter with them further.