Edgar Fernandes (Hansard, 2 July 1998)

§ Mr. Michael

Although the Home Office and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have closely followed developments in the case of Edgar Fernandes, the murder investigation and any subsequent prosecution are matters for the Turkish authorities. The Turkish authorities have not requested any specific assistance from the United Kingdom in connection with the investigation, although the exchange of relevant information has taken place both through police channels, via Interpol, and via diplomatic channels, through our Consular Division here and Diplomatic Posts overseas.

On 11 May, Interpol London was advised that a person suspected of committing the murder had been arrested in Malta. The Turkish authorities are currently applying for his extradition from Malta to face prosecution in Turkey. The Turkish Ministry of Justice sent the translated extradition request to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 10 June. There may be a delay in its arrival in Malta because Turkey does not have diplomatic representation in Malta and it is understood that the paperwork will have to be processed via the Turkish Embassy in Rome.

The level of co-operation between the British and Turkish police forces during the investigation, conducted via Interpol channels, has been generally good, although there have been some delays in information being provided to the British police by the Turkish authorities, partly because Turkey has chosen to send some responses via diplomatic channels rather than via Interpol where the British request originated. Both the British police and the Consular Division have been in regular contact with their Turkish counterparts to obtain information concerning developments, and will continue their efforts. It would probably be unhelpful, and possibly counter-productive, to go further than this, as undue pressure is likely to antagonise the Turkish authorities who are pursuing the investigation according to their national procedures. The situation is complicated by the fact that the murder suspect is in a third country and will have to be extradited to face prosecution, building in unavoidable delays.

The Turkish authorities have not requested the presence of a British police officer in Turkey to assist with the investigation. A British police officer would have no jurisdiction to investigate the case in Turkey and his presence there would have to be authorised by the Turkish authorities. The Coroner at St. Pancras has made a request 249W to the Attorney General in Malta to allow a Metropolitan Police officer to interview the detained suspect in Malta to assist the inquest proceedings in Britain. The inquest has been opened and adjourned in Britain and a reply to the request is currently awaited from the Attorney General in Malta.

The cases of Christopher Howes and Captain John Bashforth were both different from the present case. Mr. Howes was kidnapped and British police officers, trained in negotiation skills, went to Cambodia to assist with negotiations and in establishing Mr. Howes' whereabouts. British police made a number of visits to Cambodia and their involvement there concluded once the fates of Mr. Howes and the other hostage were discovered. The murder investigations then became a matter for the Cambodian authorities.

British police officers did not go to Indonesia in 1996 to investigate the murder in 1992 of Captain Bashforth, but rather to review the investigation of the murder by the Indonesian police. The perpetrators of the murder have never been caught.

The police and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will continue to monitor developments in the case of Edgar Fernandes, in consultation with the relevant authorities in Turkey and Malta. In this regard, Interpol London are currently pursuing with their Maltese counterparts the question of the visit by a Metropolitan Police officer to facilitate the inquest being held in Britain.