A British nationwide implicated in a prominent cash laundering case has actually contradicted bail given to him by an Indian court, declaring he does not feel safe outdoors jail.
Christian Michel James, who was extradited from Dubai in 2018, is declared to have actually been the intermediary in a multi-million-dollar bribery scandal associated to the AgustaWestland helicopter offer. He has actually invested more than 6 years in New Delhi’s Tihar Prison waiting for trial and was just recently given bail by the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court.
Nevertheless, throughout a court hearing on Friday, Mr Michel made it clear that he would decline bail, pointing out hazards to his life and an absence of security in the Indian capital.
” For me, Delhi is simply a bigger jail,” he informed the court of Judge Sanjeev Aggarwal. “My household can not come here; they have actually been informed for many years it is not safe. You understand I have security problems. There have actually been efforts on my life two times.”
Mr Michel, who was confessed to Delhi leading health center, All India Institute of Medical Sciences for hip surgical treatment last month, declared that an occurrence happened throughout his treatment, as he raised severe issues about his security.
” I need to state with excellent remorse that something occurred in AIIMS that I need to speak with you about in personal. And I have witnesses,” he stated, as he stood holding crutches.
The court acknowledged his issues however firmly insisted that as soon as bail had actually been given, there was no legal basis to continue his detention.
” However you have actually gotten bail,” the judge kept in mind, to which Mr Michel reacted, “That is my point, your honor. I would rather serve my sentence and continue the trial through video conferencing from a safe nation.”
Mr Michel’s rejection to get out of prison is uncommon, as a lot of detainees defend bail. His legal representative, Aljo K Joseph, described to The Independent that his customer hesitates to be launched under the existing conditions since his passport has actually been taken, avoiding him from leaving India, where he fears for his life.
” He is not declining bail,” Mr Joseph clarified. “The conditions are that his passport needs to be taken, and he can not take a trip abroad. However as he stated in court, remaining outdoors and remaining in Delhi is not safe for him. There have actually currently been 2 efforts on his life.”
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Mr Michel repeated that he would just be comfy if the court clearly described his sentence so that he might serve it and leave the nation. “What I desire is for the lord to recognize my precise sentence. What is my sentence? I will serve that sentence,” he stated.
Nevertheless, the court explained that sentencing might just happen as soon as the trial was concluded. The prosecution has actually preserved that his ongoing detention was essential, offered the nature of the claims and the danger of him absconding.
The Delhi High Court’s bail order needed Mr Michel to provide a bond of Rs500,000 (₤ 4,500) and a surety of the exact same quantity while surrendering his passport. Nevertheless, his rejection to accept bail complicates his legal status.
When court asked if he might organize a safe home for himself in India, Mr Michel stated he would need his own security and did not see how he might handle that. “The issue I am having is with the authorities,” he declared.
Regardless of being held in custody for more than 6 years, Mr Michel’s trial has yet to start, which his legal group argues is a clear offense of his right to a quick trial.
” The examination began in 2013. We are now in 2025, and 12 years have actually passed. The examination is still not finish,” Mr Joseph stated. “They are searching for something that does not exist. They are searching for proof that they are not getting. It is simply a red herring.”
Mr Michel’s legal group stated the UK High Commission has actually offered just very little support, such as providing letters and some standard materials like multivitamins and chocolates.
” There has actually not been much assistance beyond regular consular gos to,” Mr Joseph stated. “We have actually been informing them consistently that the UK federal government need to require his release. However the UK federal government has some appointments and has just stated, ‘OK, it’s a due procedure, court procedures.’ That’s what they have actually been stating for a very long time.”
Mr Michel is implicated of being an essential intermediary in the questionable 2010 offer in between India’s Ministry of Defence and Anglo-Italian company AgustaWestland for the purchase of 12 high-end VVIP helicopters, an agreement worth over EUR556 million (₤ 322.4 m). Private investigators declare that allurements were paid to Indian authorities to protect the agreement which Mr Michel personally got commissions totaling up to EUR30 million (₤ 25.7 m).
The Enforcement Directorate (ED), India’s monetary crime-fighting firm, declares that Mr Michel played an essential function in routing illegal funds and utilizing shell business to camouflage payments. He has actually been charged under India’s Avoidance of Cash Laundering Act (PMLA) and is likewise dealing with charges under the Central Bureau of Examination (CBI) for corruption-related offenses.
In February 2025, India’s Supreme Court approved him bail in the CBI case, keeping in mind that the examination had actually been dragging out for more than a years without a conclusion.
“You will not have the ability to conclude the trial in another 25 years passing what your conduct has actually been,” the Supreme Court mentioned in its judgment.
The Independent has actually called Tihar Prison authorities for remark.