Krenzi, Majlinda

Majlinda Krenzi, an Albanian national, came to the UK in November 1998 using a false Italian passport. She was attempting to fly on to Canada using the same false passport in December 1998 when she was stopped at Heathrow airport.

Later that month at Uxbridge Magistrates’ Court she pleaded guilty to use of a false document with intent and was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment.

Ms Krenzi claimed asylum in the UK on the basis that she was in fear of persecution if she was returned to Albania.

She was initially refused asylum but following an appeal to the Immigration Appellate Authority, it was agreed that she did face a real risk of persecution, that she was a refugee, and that she should have had a defence under Article 31 of the Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951 and Protocol 1967 (“Refugee Convention”).

The CCRC received an application for review of Ms Krenzi’s conviction in 2012.

The CCRC decided to refer Ms Krenzi’s case for a fresh appeal at the Crown Court.

The referral was made of the basis that under Article 31 of the Refugee Convention, Ms Krenzi had a legitimate expectation that, as a refugee, she would not be prosecuted for her illegal entry into the UK or attempted transit on to Canada.

It was an abuse of process for Ms Krenzi to be prosecuted to conviction and therefore there was a real possibility that the Crown Court would not uphold the conviction.

The CCRC referred the conviction in April 2013.

The Crown Court quashed the conviction in June 2013.