A MAN convicted of drugs smuggling in the Czech Republic, despite protesting his innocence, is fighting the latest attempts to extradite him there.
Daniel Macdonald was arrested at an address in South Woodham Ferrers last week last Tuesday (January 13) after failing to meet police at Heathrow Airport last May.
Brought before Westminster Magistrates' Court the next day, he was given conditional bail and seven days to appeal against his extradition.
The 31-year-old, of Tree Beard Copse, South Woodham Ferrers, said: "We are going through the appeal process, which could take up to six months.
"We're awaiting a new date for my appeal. I'm innocent of the charges and I have proof of that.
"This has been an incredibly stressful time for me and my family.
"The case has already been made void over there and they want me for a retrial."
The former sales manager was arrested in Prague in November 2009 on suspicion of importing 10.84kg of cannabis from Lebanon and given a six-and-a-half year sentence in his absence.
But Macdonald has always protested his innocence, claiming he was the victim of an elaborate honey trap scam after falling in love with a Lebanese girl who planted drugs on him.
He also says that he should not be extradited due to ongoing mental health issues.
The former sales manager was due to be extradited after he lost a second appeal at Westminster Magistrates' Court last March.
In April, the 31-year-old mounted an advertising stand in central London in a desperate one-man protest against his extradition and expressing his innocence of any crimes.
He displayed a pink banner asking for help to find an unnamed CID officer who he says he met at Edmonton Police Station in 2011 and made him sign papers guaranteeing that Czech police will not prosecute.
After being talked down from the advertising stand by police officers, they agreed to help him find the officer involved who, he says, has confirmed his story.
"I found the police officer and the letter which makes the process void. I have never been convicted of drug smuggling and the whole thing makes me feel terrible," said Macdonald.
"I hate the thought that people would think I have smuggled drugs."
But his arrest last week may have changed the situation.
