§ 46. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware of the case of Ioannis A. Droussiotis, who was born in Cyprus in 1919, fought in the last war against the German and Italian invaders of Greece, and is now in jail in Athens under sentence of imprisonment for life, what assistance the British Embassy in Athens provided for this man in the preparation and presentation of his defence; what advice he was given in regard to an appeal; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. YoungerYes. This man was sentenced to death in Salonica on 28th September, 1948, on four separate counts as the leader of a terrorist organisation by the unanimous decision of a court-martial. A member of the staff of His
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Majesty's Consulate-General visited him in prison immediately after his arrest to make sure that he had proper legal aid, and was present at the trial. Droussiotis appealed and on 30th March, 1949, his sentence was commuted to life imprisonment. Under leniency measures introduced last October by the Greek Government it was open to Droussiotis to make a fresh appeal for review of his sentence, and he can at any time submit a petition for a further reduction of his sentence as an act of grace.
His Majesty's Ambassador has followed the case closely from the start, and His Majesty's Consul at Athens has visited Droussiotis in prison.