George Hepburne Scott appears before the Divisional Court in groundbreaking Japanese extradition appeal

George Hepburne Scott appeared in the recent high-profile case of Government of Japan v Chappell, a 3-day substantive extradition appeal in the Divisional Court before Lewis LJ and Julian Knowles J from 15 to 17 October.

The case follows on from the landmark victory before the Chief Magistrate at Westminster Magistrates’ Court last year where George defeated the first ever extradition request made by the Government of Japan to the UK on multiple grounds.

The underlying allegation is that Mr Chappell, along with two others, conducted a violent robbery of the Harry Winston jewellery store in Tokyo in November 2015, with the value of items stolen was said to be $742,000. Mr Chappell was discharged on all grounds pending the appeal.

The case raises multiple novel, complex and substantial matters of fact and human rights and extradition law.

The Government of Japan had appealed the Chief Magistrate’s ruling, hence the Administrative Court appeal hearing, and their Lordships’ reserved judgement will now be handed down in due course.

George was led by Mark Summers KC of Matrix Chambers and both were instructed by Lisa French of Foxes Solicitors.