Arnost Berki v Czech Republic
[2024] EWHC 428 (Admin)
Vojtech Drahonsky v District Court of Usti Nad Laden (Czech Republic)
14 November 2023
[2023] EWHC 2858 (Admin)
High Court
A man is wanted in the Czech Republic for burglary. He ran to the UK to avoid jail. A judge in the UK decided it's fair to send him back, even though he argued it would violate his human rights. This appeal to change that decision failed.
Key Facts
- •Vojtech Drahonsky (Appellant) appeals a decision ordering his extradition to the Czech Republic.
- •Appellant was wanted for commercial burglaries committed in February 2020.
- •Appellant was sentenced in absentia to 28 months imprisonment in the Czech Republic.
- •Appellant fled to the UK in November 2020 to avoid prosecution and remained for 16 months before arrest.
- •Appellant's Article 8 (right to private and family life) arguments were considered at the original hearing.
- •Appellant has 9 previous convictions in the Czech Republic between 2003 and 2019.
- •Appellant is currently serving a lengthy period of remand.
- •The original judge's decision was based on a thorough consideration of the Article 8 arguments.
Legal Principles
Article 8 ECHR (right to respect for private and family life)
European Convention on Human Rights
Outcomes
Application for permission to appeal dismissed.
The Judge found that Article 8 was fully and fairly considered at the original hearing; the balance of factors weighed decisively in favour of extradition; further remand time would not alter this outcome.