Wrongly Convicted Database Record
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Charge: |
Drug Related (Possession or sale) |
Sentence: |
10 years |
Years Imprisoned: |
6 |
Year Crime: |
2006 |
Year Convicted: |
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Year Cleared: |
2015 |
U.S. State or Country of Crime: |
India |
County or Region of Crime: |
Kerala |
City of Crime: |
Kollam |
Result: |
Judicially Exonerated Released |
Summary of Case: |
"Ashraf alias Switch of Pathanapuram and Ansari of Pathanapuram were codefendants wrongly convicted of drug charges in Kollam, India. Their convictions were based the testimony of police officers that in October 2006, 39 kg of ganja was found in the search of a vehicle the two defendants were in. Ashraf and Ansari were each sentenced to 10 years rigorous imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh (Approx. US$2,250). Witnesses against the two filed complaints that they were forced to falsely testify. On March 16, 2015 the Kerala High Court quashed the convictions of Ashraf and Ansari on the basis there were serious irregularities in the prosecution's case that cast doubt on the guilt of the defendants. The Court noted there was suspicion the two had some quantity of ganja in their possession, "But, suspicion, however strong it may be, is not a substitute for proof. The suspicious circumstances make the prosecution case doubtful.:" |
Conviction Caused By: |
Apparent police misconduct of eliciting false testimony from witnesses. |
Innocence Proved By: |
"On March 16, 2015 the Kerala High Court quashed the convictions of Ashraf adn Ansari on the basis there were serious irregularities in the prosecution's case that cast doubt on the guilt of the defendants. The Court noted there was suspicion the two had some quantity of ganja in their possession, "But, suspicion, however strong it may be, is not a substitute for proof. The suspicious circumstances make the prosecution case doubtful.:" |
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Was Perpetrator Identified? |
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Sex: |
Male |
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Information Source 1: |
"High Court sets Aside Conviction of Drug Case Accused, By Express News Service, The New Indian Express, March 17, 2015" |
Information Location 1: |
http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/High-Court-sets-Aside-Conviction-of-Drug-Case-Accused/2015/03/17/article2717022.ece |
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Innocents Database Created and Maintained by Hans Sherrer innocents@forejustice.org