Denmark refuses to extradite Kim Davy, India still hopeful

New Delhi: Unperturbed by Denmark’s refusal to file an appeal in its Supreme Court for the extradition of Kim Davy, the government is looking for options to make a fresh diplomatic move with the country to evole a method and bring back the Purulia arms drop case accused to India. The CBI is also mulling other options to bring Davy to trial, including through video conferencing, after weighing other legal options. [caption id=“attachment_38330” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“High Court in Copenhagen. Scanpix Scanpix/Reuters”]  [/caption] Jorgen Steen Sorensen, Denmark’s Director, Prosecution, also acknowledged that a case against Davy has been made. “…both the District Court and the High Court agreed for example, that the evidentiary basis for extradition is sufficient, that the double criminality requirement of the Extradition Act is satisfied and that the case is not time barred,” Sorensen said in a statement last night. In a separate statement, the Danish Foreign Ministry asked India to “appreciate” the Danish judiciary. Official sources in New Delhi said a diplomatic contact with the Danish government was necessary to impress upon the fact that Davy alias Niels Holck had admitted before a Danish court about his involvement in the Purulia arms drop case. The sources said post-9/11 attacks, Denmark had amended its Constitution thereby agreeing to extradite any person involved in any act of terror. The arms dropping was aimed at fomenting terror activities mainly in Purulia in West Bengal, they said. India’s hopes of extraditing Davy were dashed last night when the Director of Public Prosecutions said that the Prosecution Service will not to seek permission to bring the question of extradition of Davy to India before the Supreme Court. Sorensen said he fully understands the attention which this case has attracted in Denmark as well as in India. Sorensen said: “The Eastern High Court has, without any dissent, however, reached the same conclusion as the District Court and the High Court’s ruling is based on a specific assessment of all the circumstances of the case, including the current conditions in India. “Against this background I do not find that the questions involved in this case are of a nature that will justify an application for permission to bring it before the Supreme Court.” In April 2010, the Danish Ministry of Justice had decided that Davy had to be extradited to India for prosecution for offences committed in 1995, involving an arms drop and participation in a conspiracy to wage war against the country. This decision was brought before the District Court of Hillerod according to the rules of the Extradition Act. In November 2010, the District Court ruled that this decision could not be upheld. On 30 June 2011, the Eastern High Court affirmed the District Court’s decision. Both the courts, while rejecting that plea, had said, however, on the basis of a specific assessment of the conditions under which Davy may be  expected to be detained after prospective extradition to India, that there is a real risk that he will be exposed to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment in India. India had lodged a strong protest with Denmark over the remarks made by the Danish court and the External Affairs Ministry summoned the Charge d’Affaires on Monday and conveyed in no uncertain terms that such remarks about India’s human rights records and prison conditions were unacceptable. Home Minister P Chidambaram also termed the Danish High Court’s observation as “disappointing” and rejected the argument that prisoners are subjected to torture here. However, in the statement, the Danish Foreign Ministry asked India to respect the verdict of Danish courts. The statement said the Danish Minister of Justice decided that Niels Holck (Davy) could be extradited to India for the purpose of prosecution. This decision has subsequently been brought to the Danish Courts. “On June 30, 2011 the High Court of Eastern Denmark confirmed the decision of November one, 2010 by the Danish District Court of Hillerod overruling the Danish government’s decision to extradite Niels Holck. “The Danish Government respects the decision of the independent Danish Judiciary. The independence of the Judiciary is a fundamental principle of a democracy based on the rule of law, and it is the Government’s hope that a democracy like India appreciates this. “On behalf of the Danish Government the Foreign Minister expresses her aspiration that India and Denmark may continue to strengthen the close bilateral relationship to mutual benefit,” the Danish Foreign Ministry statement said. Indian authorities had assured the Danish Justice Ministry that Davy would not be given death penalty and if found guilty he would be allowed to serve sentence term in a Denmark prison. The Danish High Court had rejected the assurances given by Indian government that no harm will befall Davy once he is in custody in India. India’s failure to ratify the United Nations Torture Connvention, alleged degrading treatment in jails and alleged widespread human rights violations were the reasons cited by the Danish High Court. Chidambaram recently went a step ahead and assured that if Davy was extradited, he would be tried in an open court and would be produced before court every day. “He will have consular access. He can always tell the judge that he needs to be medically examined and if there is any violation of human rights, he can always complain the next morning when he is brought to the court,” he had said. CBI had registered a case on 28 December 1995, after sophisticated arms, including AK-47 assault rifles, anti-tank grenades and other weapons were dropped from a foreign plane on the fields of Purulia in West Bengal on the night of 17 December 1995. An Interpol Red Corner Notice was issued against Davy in 1996 on the request of the agency. Since he was traced in in 2001, efforts continued to extradite him to India even though there was no extradition treaty with Denmark. PTI