HC Deb 13 December 1971 vol 828 cc13-4
22. Mr. Hugh Jenkins

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what protests he has made concerning the arrest of 71 British subjects by the South African Government during the last year; and if he will list the criminal charges on which 55 of these British subjects have been detained.

Mr. Godber

There are normally no grounds for protesting in regard to the arrest in a foreign country of a British subject who is charged with having committed an offence under the law of that country. We have as necessary reminded the South African Government that when a United Kingdom citizen is arrested we expect him to be charged and brought to trial or speedily released. I will with permission circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the other details which the hon. Member has requested.

As he will see, they cover a very wide range of which theft and fraud amount to well over half of those involved.

Mr. Jenkins

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether those seven arrested on political charges have been brought to trial and charged and, if not, what protests he has made in this connection?

Mr. Godber

Of the seven, three were charged and convicted and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. After one month they were released and deported. One of the other four is the Dean of Johannesburg, and there is the question of an appeal at present. The other three who have not yet been charged are concerned with matters on which we have made representations, but these are more recent arrests.

Following is the information:

BREAKDOWN OF THE CRIMINAL CHARGES ON WHICH 55 BRITISH SUBJECTS HAVE BEEN CHARGED IN SOUTH AFRICA DURING THE LAST YEAR (FROM 1ST DECEMBER,1970).
Theft 22
Illegal Immigration 7
Possession of dangerous weapons 2
Housebreaking and attempted theft 1
Causing a disturbance 1
Assault … … 1
Fraud 10
Attempted rape 1
Breach of Immorality Act 1
Contempt of Court 1
Rape/Incest 2
Debt 3
Manslaughter 1
Attempted Murder 1
Abducting a Minor 1
Total 55
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