British geologist James Fitton has been arrested and sentenced for 15 years in prison after he tried to smuggle permitted artefacts from Iraq. Find more about the arrest and Fitton’s merely timid escape from a death penalty.
James Fitton has been jailed in Iraq after he collected some ancient stones and tried to take them back as soueveniers,not knowing that they were infact 200 years old and their transit was strictly prohibited under Iraqi law.
The 66yearold collected 12 stones and shards of broken pottery as souvenirs while visiting a site in Eridu in southeast Iraq as part of an organised geology and archaeology tour. The father of two was charged with smuggling under the country`s antiquities law after his arrest at Baghdad International Airport in March.
Why Is British Geologist James Fitton Jailed In Iraq?
James Fitton is a revered British geologist who was arrested in Baghdad Airport and jailed for 15 years after he narrowly escaped a death penalty for smuggling ancient artifacts. He was arrested alongside his fellow researcher scientist.
The pair had been held in Iraq since the items were found in their bags on 20 March. The men had told the court they had not acted with criminal intent and Fitton previously said he “suspected” the items he collected were ancient fragments, adding that “at the time I didn’t know about Iraqi laws” or that taking the shards was not permitted.
Under Iraqi law, he could have faced the death penalty, but on Monday a Baghdad court sentenced him to 15 years in prison.
German tourist Volker Waldmann, who was arrested at the same time as Fitton, was acquitted of the same charges and will be released. Fitton’s lawyer Thair Soud said he would appeal the verdict on the grounds that there was no criminal intent, adding: “I thought the worstcase scenario would be one year, with suspension.”
James Fitton’s Age And Family Details Surfed
Fitton’s soninlaw Sam Tasker, 27, said the verdict was “tantamount to a death sentence” and criticised the government for their “total lack of action”. “We are absolutely shattered by this news. For a man of Jim’s age, 15 years in an Iraqi prison is tantamount to a death sentence,” he said.
Fitton lives in Malaysia with his wife, Sarijah. His daughter Leila Fitton, 31 and her husband, Mr Tasker, live in Bath. Their petition together with Fitton’s son Joshua calling for UK ministers to intervene to help free the geologist has collected more than 280,000 signatures.
Who Is Volker Waldmann?
Volker Waldmann is a fellow researcher who was arrested alongside James Fitton and will be released as he only picked up the stone for James and not with any illegal smuggling transition.
They heard a ruling two weeks after the court was postponed to allow time for further investigation at the request of Waldman’s lawyer, Frat Kuba. “Jim didn’t even know when he committed, especially in the case of a very trivial and suspicious crime.