Qema, Besnik
Besnik Qema was convicted in March 2005 of supply of a class A drug, possession of a class A drug with intent to supply, and possession of a false instrument with intent to supply.
Mr Qema received a sentence of four years and six months’ imprisonment.
The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in October 2006.
The prosecution resulted from an undercover operation by a journalist for the News of the World.
During review, the CCRC obtained fresh evidence concerning the circumstances in which Mr Qema came to commit the offences and the role of the journalist’s source.
In addition, there had been material non-disclosure (prior to police interview and the entering of a plea) of matters affecting the credibility of the key prosecution witness.
The CCRC concluded there was a real possibility the Crown Court would set Mr Qema’s guilty plea and stay any further proceedings as an abuse of process.
The CCRC referred the conviction in January 2010.
The Crown Court quashed the conviction in September 2010.