LOUGHTON: Man guilty of kidnap lies will not be extradited to face justice (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

LOUGHTON: Man guilty of kidnap lies will not be extradited to face justice

4:40pm Tuesday 22nd March 2011 in Epping Forest News By Tom Porter

ANGER has been expressed at a police decision not to extradite a man who lied to police about being kidnapped and terrorised for starting an Islamic prayer group.

Noor Ramjanally, 37, who fled to Mauritius before being convicted of perverting the course of justice at Chelmsford Crown Court last year, will not be brought back to the UK to serve his two year sentence.

Mr Ramjanally claimed that he had been kidnapped by masked knifemen, taken to Epping Forest and threatened for starting a Muslim prayer group in Loughton.

He also claimed that his home had been firebombed and he had been threatened.

After examining CCTV footage from a camera installed for Ramjanally's safety, police discovered that he was at home at the time he claimed to have been kidnapped.

Councillor Stephen Murray was verbally intimidated and threatened by dogs after defending the rights of muslims to hold prayer meetings at Murray Hall.

He said: “I am not happy about it. He has been found guilty of a serious offence and should be made to come back and serve his sentence.

“I would like to know the reasons the police have for deciding not to make him serve the sentence for the offence and be extradited.”

Ken Angold Stephens was Mayor of Loughton at the time of the attacks and spoke out in support of Ramjanally at the time of the attacks.

He said: “Mr Ramjanally did a lot of damage to race relations in Loughton that took a long time t repair. I would certainly like to see him brought back to serve his sentence.”

John Jennings, 81, who lives on the ground floor of the block of flats Ramjanally lived in, said: “He was always polite and said 'hello' when I saw him on the stairs. He once came round to let us know we had left our car lights on outside.

“Then he changed. His dress became more Islamic, so did his family's.

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Mr Jenning's said that police guarded Ramjanally's flat for six weeks after the alleged arson attack, but residents were not informed of the reason for the 24-hour police presence.

“I think it is disgusting that he made it all up. I have not seen him for a long time but the police were round here recently because someone said they had seen him.”

A police spokeswoman said: “Essex police took the decision to that it is not in the public interest to have Noor Ramjanally extradited.

“If he re-enters the country he will be arrested immediately.”