UK convict to complete jail term in Britain

The Bombay High Court has paved the way for the transfer of a Britisher, convicted for a drug offence, to his native state for serving the rest of his prison term. Kanchan Chaudhari reports.

The Bombay High Court has paved the way for the transfer of a Britisher, convicted for a drug offence, to his native state for serving the rest of his prison term.

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Narcotics Control Bureau had arrested Whitcombe Geoffrey William for possessing contraband material on April 21, 2006. He pleaded guilty before the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act court. The court convicted William on August 13, 2007, and sentenced him to 10-year jail.

In default of payment of total fine amount, William was to serve additional six months in prison. William had written to the Union Home Ministry last year requesting repatriation.

The British High Commission said it would not be in a position to enforce sentence of 180 days in default of fine. Unable to pay the fine, William had moved the high court seeking reduction in default sentence from 180 days to 45 days, which is the permissible upper limit in UK. He had sought reduction of default sentence as he had pleaded guilty and that he had already undergone about four years of term awarded by the special court.