GO AD FREE | Get your Digital Subscription for only 50p a week! Use code SUMMER
GET STARTEDMore on KentOnline
Home Folkestone News Article
Lawyers for the men who are believed to have walked almost the entire length of the Channel Tunnel are now preparing for a legal fight to have the case thrown out.
Sudanese Abdul Haroun, 40, was arrested after allegedly travelling from Calais to Folkestone along a line where trains travel up to 160 kph.
Now prosecutor Philip Bennetts QC has told Canterbury Crown Court that the CPS is pressing ahead for a trial under the 1861 Malicious Damage Act.
But defence barrister Benjamin Narain said before any trial – which is expected in June – there will be legal argument, which is believed to be an abuse of process argument.
Haroun was given refugee status on Christmas Eve and has been granted bail until a hearing in March.
In a separate case Iranians Payam Moradi Mirahessari, 25 and Farein Vahdani, 20, both pleaded not guilty to a similar charge.
They, too, were arrested after allegedly walking the tunnel last year and will also have to appear in court while their lawyers prepare a similar legal case for the judge to dismiss the case.
They were remanded in custody.