UK extradition request for Bulgarian rejected by appeals court

The Plovdiv Court of Appeal has refused to extradite a Bulgarian citizen, identified by the initials E.F., to the UK, where he is wanted to face charges of sexual assault, voyeurism and failing to appear before a court in Birmingham.

The man was initially detained in the UK but was later released because the alleged offences had been committed seven years earlier.

The appeals court twice requested assurances from the UK authorities that, if convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment – a penalty applicable to two of the charges – the Bulgarian national would be returned to Bulgaria to serve his sentence. As no satisfactory guarantees were provided, the court declined to execute the extradition request and ordered the man's immediate release.

The ruling is final and cannot be appealed, Bulgarian National Radio's Radio Plovdiv reported.

Editor: Diana tsankova