17/07/2003

Afghan man appears in London court on charges of torture

An Afghan man has appeared before a London Court charged with 16 offences – including torture and kidnapping – during his tenure as military commander of a town in his native country at the time of its civil war.

The proceedings represent a landmark case under the terms of the Criminal Justice Act 1988. Zardad Faryadi Sarwar (40) is currently resident in south London, having claimed asylum several years ago. It is thought Mr Sarwar left Afghanistan when the Taliban came to power, before which he worked as a military commander in charge of the roadblocks around the town of Sarobi, which lies along one of the main routes to the Afghan capital, Kabul.

Mr Sarwar, who was arrested by Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist police on Wednesday night, is charged with nine counts relating to acts of torture or giving orders for the carrying out of torture. Five other charges relate to taking hostages and holding them to ransom, while two further charges pertains to plotting to carry out torture and taking a hostage.

(CL)




Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

12 March 2004
British Guantanamo detainee accuses US of 'torture'
One of the five Britons recently returned to the UK from Guantanamo Bay has claimed that he was subjected to cruel and sadistic treatment by US authorities.
18 July 2005
Afghan warlord found guilty of torture
In what has been described as a ‘landmark’ case, Afghan warlord Faryadi Zardad has been found guilty of torture and hostage taking, following a retrial which saw witnesses giving evidence via video link from another country.
27 February 2013
Actor Michael Le Vell Appears In Court On 19 Child Sex Crime Charges
Actor Michael Le Vell, Coronation Street’s Kevin Webster, has appeared in court to face a number of child sex crime charges. 48-year-old Le Vell is charged with 19 serious sexual offences, including six rapes and six indecent assaults.
27 January 2009
French Court Postpones Extradition Decision
Magistrates in France have today postponed a decision on the extradition of Robert Williams, to the UK, after he was found with a teenage girl from Lincolnshire. Fifteen-year-old Laura Stainforth, was discovered in France last week with Mr Williams after going missing from her home.
15 November 2007
Prisoner Makes Court Appearance Over Kent Body
A man has appeared in court to face charges related to the death of 15-year-old Vicky Hamilton, whose remains were found in the garden of a house in Kent. Peter Tobin, 61, who is currently in custody, appeared before Linlithgow Sheriff Court on Thursday. He was remanded in custody and is expected to reappear in court next week.