An Albanian gangster who killed a policeman is reportedly free to roam Britain’s streets in yet another UK humans rights scandal. Mafia kingpin Maksim Cela, 59, is said to have argued it would be a breach of his human rights to send him back to Albania because of the risk posed by rival gangsters.
He has cost British taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds battling deportation, according to The Sun, which reports Cela is believed to have flown from Spain to the UK where he launched an attempt to stay on asylum and human rights grounds. Cela was detained in Britain soon after he was released from prison in Albania where he served half of a 25 year long life sentence for murder and terrorism. He was jailed for the murder of policeman Klenti Bano and plotting to detonate a bomb near Roza Haxhiu Stadium in the city of Lushnje.
The hardman has been granted bail, pending a decision whether or not to deport him, meaning he is currently free to roam Britain’s streets.
An initial claim for asylum had been thrown out by a First Tier immigration tribunal judge, but another claim that rival gangs would be a threat to his life if he returned to Albania was accepted.
His claim was based on articles two and three of the European Convention on Human Rights, which guarantee the right to life and prohibition of torture or inhuman or degrading treatement or punishment.
Acceptance of his claim was ruled to be an “error of law” after the Home Secretary appealed against the ruling.
A two day hearing at the Upper Tier Tribunal from March 31 will decide whether Cela can remain in the UK.
Even if Cela loses, the mobster will still be able to make more appeals to higher courts, meaning he can remain in Britain.
Conservative former Home Office Minister Kevin Foster told The Sun the case is yet another example of human rights “lunacy” in UK courts, adding judges should be clearing a path to remove Cela from Britain “instead of pandering” to him.
A Home Office spokeswoman said the Government will be challenging Cela’s appeal at the Upper Tribunal.
She added: “Foreign nationals who commit heinous crimes should be in no doubt we will do everything to make sure they are not free on Britain’s streets, including removal from the UK at the earliest possible opportunity.
“Since the election we’ve removed 2,925 foreign criminals, a 21% increase on the same period 12 months prior.”
