Sunday, September 07, 2008

Mystery inmate refuses to leave jail

An inmate is frustrating prison bosses by refusing to leave jail - two years after serving his sentence. The male prisoner, who is a foreign national, has exploited a loophole in the system by refusing to divulge his real name and country of origin.

He was due to be deported to his home country when he completed a six-year sentence for wounding with intent and aggravated burglary at HMP Peterborough in 2006. But the necessary paperwork cannot be processed because he has refused to give prison officers his name or reveal the country where he was born.
Prison bosses fear the unnamed inmate could potentially remain at the prison indefinitely - costing the taxpayer an estimated £30,000-a-year.

Alessio Beschizza, chairman of HMP Peterborough's Independent Monitoring Board (IMB), said he could not see an end to the "unusual" situation.

He said: "He is refusing to give the authorities any information about himself and there is nothing that can be done. We don't even know if the name he has been giving is correct and he will not confirm his nationality.

"He has been due for deportation since he completed his sentence almost two years ago, but the prison has no choice but to hold him until we get the information. He could well be in there indefinitely, unless someone takes his case up and it goes through the courts, but I can't see that happening."

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