One-legged Albanian murder suspect can be extradited

A one-legged Albanian who posed as a Kosovan asylum seeker to gain UK citizenship after carrying out a brutal double murder 20 years ago can be extradited after living on state benefits for 14 years, a judge ruled today (Fri).

Saliman Barci, 41, ‘deliberately misled’ UK immigration authorities with a false alias and passport after gunning down Perparim Ibrahimi and Artur Gjoka with a military rifle on 18 July 1997.

The father-of-three is said to have lured the two victims to their death in Burrel, northern Albania, with the promise of 60 million Leks, currently equivalent to £340,000.

Barci fled the country in the wake of the killings and the investigation had to be closed in March 1998.

When new evidence came to light he was convicted of both murders and illegally possessing military weapons in his absence and sentenced to 25 years in jail on 24 November 2009.

After a number of appeals led by his mother and sister, the High Court in Tirana quashed his conviction in 2013 and sent the case to Albania’s Appeal Court.

Barci, who had been using the alias Saimir Basha, was arrested in the UK after Albanian prosecutors requested his extradition on 17 July 2015.

He was convicted of possessing cocaine in the UK on 3 August 2015.

When asked how he claimed asylum he replied: ‘Like every Albanian you said you were from Kosovo.’

Today (Fri) District Judge John Zani ordered his extradition and sent the case to the Secretary of State for a final decision.

Barci hobbled into the dock using a walking stick and waved to his three children in the public gallery at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

Judge Zani said: ‘I have considered all of the arguments very ably made on your behalf as well as the elements you have given me, but I’m afraid I have rejected each of them.’

In his written ruling, he said: ‘[Saliman Barci] agreed that he deliberately misled the UK authorities in relation to these applications.

‘He also inaccurately told them he was from Kosovo rather than Albania as he believed this would enhance his chances of being successful in those applications.’

He continued: ‘Saliman Barci stated that the reason why he adopted – and then maintained – a false identity in the UK was because his life had been threatened by members of one of the families of the two deceased persons in respect of whose murder he has been convicted in Albania.’

He added: ‘Saliman Barci has not worked since coming to the UK, by reason of his ongoing health issues.

‘He and his family rely on state benefits.’

Barci tried to fight extradition using rights enshrined by the European Convention on Human Rights as well as citing parts of the Extradition Act 2003.

His legal team argued that deporting Barci would breach article 2 (right to life), article 3 (prohibition on torture), article 6 (right to a fair trial) and article 8 (right to a private and family life) of the convention.

They further claimed that extradition would be oppressive due to his numerous medical conditions, including an amputated leg.

Barci told a previous hearing he had to have his left leg amputated 2cm under the knee in 1995 after suffering serious injuries in a motorcycle crash.

He now has a prosthetic leg and is taking beta blockers and statins after suffering what he claims was a ‘minor heart attack’ in custody in the UK – an incident recorded as ‘minor chest pains’ by police.

The married father-of-three claims he will be hunted down and killed in Albania because he is at risk from a blood feud and referred to ‘systematic corruption’ in the judicial system.

Prosecutors said his claim was ‘entirely uncorroborated’ to which Barci replied: ‘No, that’s why I came here because I knew England are going to protect me and my family.’

When asked how he claimed asylum in the UK he replied: ‘Like every Albanian you said you were from Kosovo.’

Anthropologist Antonia Young, called by Barci as an expert witness, told an earlier hearing: ‘Honour is more important than life in Albania, so if the [victim’s] family feel that they need revenge it’s something that stays with them, they don’t forget it.’

She claimed that Barci would be unlikely to receive the medical attention he requires in an Albanian prison and raised concerns about corruption.

Prosecutors referred to a statement from Albanian authorities which said defendants cite blood feuds in most cases where they claim they are facing persecution.

They also claimed said there was ‘no direct evidence’ that Barci’s 2009 trial was affected by corruption.

Barci, of [39] Cowings Mead, Northolt, Ealing, has the right to appeal the ruling and the Secretary of State’s ruling once it is made.

ends