Baiano arrested in England ensures that he is innocent

Baiano arrested in England ensures that he is innocent Currently there are about 3,000 Brazilians arrested abroad, according to a survey by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country. In this case the statistic comes from Bahia Alexandre Souza Silva, imprisoned since March 2010 in England. After the direct interference of Lidice da Mata senator and federal deputies Jean Willys and Geraldo Simões, all of Bahia, the Foreign Ministry is giving priority attention to the case of Alexandre Silva Souza, 45, whose family lives in Porto Seguro. Initially charged for drug trafficking, Alexander was able to prove his innocence, but was sentenced to 15 years for conspiracy. Later, he got a reduced sentence to 11 years. Alexander lived for 22 years in London, where he worked until he was arrested, as a steward for British Airways. Previously, he worked as a janitor, waiter and caretaker of animals. For the teacher Sonali Silva Souza, sister of Alexander, his arrest was motivated by prejudice. She also points out several errors in the conduct of the case, both by the police when Judge Peter Clarke, head of the trial. "The evidence collected at the home of Alexander and prove his innocence, disappeared," says Sonali. It highlights the courage of Senator Lidice da Mata to enter the case to help defend a poor Brazilian arrested overseas. The senator called on an emergency basis, information to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Alexander, which was promptly answered. In the document, Foreign Ministry reform the innocence of Bahia. The family believes that Alexander is the victim of prejudice for being Brazilian and black. The visibility that the case is getting to the Congress and the federal government was only possible thanks to the commitment of the family of Alexander, especially his sister and mother, Dona Ivone. Since he was arrested, Sonali has been collecting signatures on a petition that already has currently over 20 000 accessions. It ensures that their main struggle is that the brother has a fair trial, preferably in the European Court of Human Rights. "But for that you must be exhausted before all legal remedies in Britain," he said. The next print edition of the newspaper The People published an exclusive interview done by e-mail, Alexandre Silva, in which he gives details of the time of his arrest, he criticizes the mistakes of the British Police and Justice and reiterates the hope of proving his innocence.