Albanian Thief Allowed to Remain in UK Despite Deception for Citizenship

An Albanian armed robber has successfully appealed to remain in the UK despite discrepancies in his citizenship application. Arsimi Murati, aged 46, managed to overturn the Home Secretary's attempt to revoke his citizenship, despite misrepresenting his nationality as Kosovan and failing to disclose his conviction for armed robbery in Albania.

 

The upper tribunal immigration judge ruled in Murati's favor, stating that the Home Secretary couldn't substantiate Murati's awareness of his conviction during his application process, particularly since he was tried in absentia. Additionally, Murati cited his rights to family life under the European Convention of Human Rights as grounds for appeal, further solidifying his case.

 

This decision grants Murati the right to permanently reside in the UK, notwithstanding his criminal history and false declarations. Nevertheless, the ruling has sparked criticism, with a senior Tory MP emphasizing the need for reforms in the asylum system and human rights laws to enable the swift deportation of dangerous criminals.

 

Murati initially sought asylum in the UK in 1999, claiming to be a Kosovan fleeing the civil war in his homeland. He obtained indefinite leave to remain before becoming a British citizen in 2006. However, extradition proceedings were initiated against him by the Albanian government in 2007 due to his prior conviction for armed robbery, resulting in his return to Albania in 2009 to serve his sentence.

 

Tragedy struck when Murati's wife passed away in 2012, leaving their three children under local authority care. After his release from prison in 2015, Murati returned to the UK, and in 2019, his children were reunited with him. Despite efforts by the Home Secretary to strip him of his citizenship, Murati argued that his false claims about his nationality did not lead to his acquisition of British citizenship. He also maintained ignorance of his criminal conviction until the extradition proceedings.

 

The courts ultimately sided with Murati, rejecting the Home Office's assertions due to insufficient evidence of his knowledge regarding the conviction.

 

The Johnson Partnership

(formerly GV Hale)

01159 419 141