We worked around the clock to get it all right (From Daily Echo)

We worked around the clock to get it all right

10:23am Wednesday 26th November 2008 in

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IT was uncharted territory for Britain, let alone Hampshire police.

The extradition of Kohli from India was the first to be carried out since a treaty was signed between the two countries in 1993.

Detectives were asked to compile an extradition file so damning that Indian authorities would be convinced that Kohli should be sent back to the UK for trial.

They were given a 60-day period to get the document together. These had to include statements from witnesses to show there was evidence Kohli needed to return and face trial.

For Det sgt Steve Mardon it was one of the most stressful parts of the investigation. He said: “The process involved getting 30 witnesses in front of the court as part of the file, in order to satisfy the Indian courts we had enough evidence.

“It sounds like a long time but it’s not. We worked around the clock to ensure everything, even down to the spelling, was OK. We had to be absolutely correct in every single piece or they would have rejected it. We spent many late nights, checking and double-checking. Everything was new to us. You only get one go or that’s it, they would have had to let him go.”

Once the files had been accepted, dozens of court hearings followed before the most senior members of the Indian judiciary approved the request and ordered Kohli be sent back to the UK in July 2007.