Roger Sahota has been instructed to act on behalf of Patrick Balahan, a US/Iranian citizen currently detained in Sweden who is sought for prosecution in California. Mr Balahan’s case is currently before the First Section of the European Court of Human Rights. Mr Sahota has been approached to assume conduct of the case from his previous lawyers in Sweden.

Mr Balahan is the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Supreme Court of the state of California in May 2021, for five counts, including charges of Aggravated Mayhem, Torture, Inducing False testimony and dissuading a witness after a prior conviction and Grand Theft.

Pursuant to a bilateral extradition treaty between the US and Sweden signed in 1961, the Swedish Supreme Court approved Mr Balahan’s extradition to the USA on the 23rd of December 2021. Mr Balahan’s extradition was limited to 3 offences of Aggravated Mayhem, Torture, and Grand Theft.

Subsequently, the First Section of the European Court of Human Rights has intervened ordering a stay on his removal whilst his case is considered at Strasbourg. The Court has asked the parties to make submissions on whether Mr Balahan is at risk of receiving a life sentence without parole should he be returned to the US.

This case follows on from Sanchez Sanchez, in which Mr Sahota, previously acted, and which is a leading authority on the issue of whether life without parole sentences in the USA constitute a grossly disproportionate penalty in violation of Article 3 of the European Convention of Human Rights.

Mr Sahota is instructed together with Ben Keith of 5 St Andrews Hill Chambers who also acted in the case of Sanchez Sanchez.

Roger Sahota is one of London’s leading international criminal lawyers with a specialisation in all aspects of Extradition, Interpol, and sanctions related work. 

If you require advice and assistance in relation to an extradition case please contact our London office.