On 21 December 2022 the Divisional Court of Lady Justice Nicola Davies DBE and Mr Justice Choudhury gave judgment in a judicial review of the first extradition request made to the UK from Japan.
The three Claimants are accused of a violent robbery of a Jewellery Store in Tokyo in 2015 in which over £630,000 of jewellery was stolen. The Claimants challenged the validity of the certificate issued by the Home Secretary under section 70 of the Extradition Act 2003 on the basis that the request was not made by the Japanese Government but by the Japanese Police.
This is the first extradition request from Japan to the UK and a special ad hoc arrangement has been made under section 194 of the Extradition Act 2003. The first instance proceedings are ongoing before the Senior District Judge.
Rebecca Hill acted for the Home Secretary led by Clair Dobbin KC. Ben Keith leading Georgia Beatty acted for the Government of Japan.
