An illegal immigrant turned criminal is set for thousands in a taxpayer funded payout after judges ruled he was falsely imprisoned while awaiting deportation. Joseph Mjemer, 28, arrived in the UK as a stowaway, committed more than 20 offences, used at least five aliases and claimed to be from four different countries.
But he is now set to be turned loose with a taxpayer-funded compensation payout - despite the judge admitting there is a risk that he could commit more crimes, or simply disappear.
Mr Mjemer's lawyers argued at the hearing in London that he had been unlawfully held in prison while immigration officials tried to establish where he came from so they could deport him.
Judge Stephen Stewart QC ruled that the detention had been lawful for most of that period.
But it had been illegal for the past four months because attempts to establish Mr Mjemer's nationality had faltered, leaving no realistic prospect of deportation.
Mr Mjemer therefore succeeded in his claim for release and damages, said the judge. Read More
