Iranian asylum seeker cleared of Channel smuggling charges

Fouad Kakaei, 31, spent 17 months in jail on smuggling charges for helping to steer a boat filled with migrants from France to England. Kakaei attempted to cross the Channel twice with the hope of being rescued at see to be able to calm asylum. The first time, for specific reasons, he had not claimed asylum and was deported to Denmark where he attempted again to reach the UK. During his second attempt in 2019 he had taken a turn steering the boat because he “didn’t want to die at sea”. He was sentenced to two years and two months in January this year and the court of appeal overturned the verdict in March 2021. Lawyers say this case could lead to other migrants currently serving jail sentences being freed.