An Albanian gangster convicted of murder and terrorism offences is free to walk British streets whilst fighting deportation.
Maksim Cela, 59, was detained in the UK shortly after serving half of a 25-year life sentence in Albania.
He has cost taxpayers tens of thousands of pounds fighting deportation on human rights grounds.
Cela claims he would be at risk from rival mobsters if returned to his home country.
Maksim Cela claims he would be at risk from rival mobsters if returned to his home country
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He is currently out on bail pending a decision on his deportation case. Cela was jailed for planning the AK47 murder of policeman Klenti Bano, who was gunned down outside his home in Lushnje in April 2000.
He was also involved in plotting to detonate a bomb near Roza Haxhiu Stadium in the Albanian city of Lushnje, targeting a police chief.
In 2012, Cela was convicted of being a member of a criminal organisation, murder, possession of weapons and ammunition, and “actions related to terrorism”.
He was a high-ranking member of the ‘Banda e Lushnjes’, a crime syndicate that terrorised Lushnje in the late ’90s. Cela initially tried to claim asylum in the UK, which was rejected at a First Tier immigration tribunal.
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Home Secretary Yvette Cooper appealed against the ruling
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However, a separate claim that he would have a target on his back if returned to Albania was controversially accepted.
This claim was based on Articles Two and Three of the European Convention on Human Rights, guaranteeing ‘right to life’ and prohibiting torture.
The Home Secretary appealed against the ruling, which was later found to have been an “error of law”.
Downing Street confirmed the Government is appealing this decision. An Upper Tier Tribunal will decide whether Cela can remain in the UK during a two-day hearing starting on March 31.
Even if he loses this case, he can make further appeals to higher courts. This process would allow him to stay in Britain until all legal avenues are exhausted.
Cela is believed to have flown to the UK from Spain using a fake passport. He reportedly planned to disappear into Britain’s Albanian community but was caught soon after arrival.
He was initially held at Colnbrook Immigration Removal Centre near Heathrow before being granted bail.
Tory ex-Home Office Minister Kevin Foster condemned the decision to grant Cela bail, calling it “yet another example of human rights lunacy in our courts”.
“It’s scandalous any judge could think this dangerous terrorist’s ‘rights’ were more important than the right to be safe in this country from dangerous men like him,” Foster told The Sun.
He further stated that judges should be clearing a path to remove Cela from Britain “instead of pandering” to him.
A Home Office spokesperson said: “We will be challenging this appeal in the Upper Tribunal.”
“Foreign nationals who commit heinous crimes should be in no doubt we will do everything to make sure they are not free on Britain’s streets, including removal from the UK at the earliest possible opportunity.”
The spokesperson added that the government has removed 2,925 foreign criminals since the election, a 21 per cent increase compared to the same period 12 months prior.
They confirmed Cela’s asylum claim has been rejected and he has not received any government support during his time in the UK.