Sharif, Mohammed Zulfiqar

Mohammed Zulfiqar Sharif was convicted in March 1999 of conspiracy to defraud and received a sentence of three years’ imprisonment.

The CCRC received an application for review of the conviction in May 2001.

During review, the CCRC obtained fresh medical evidence indicating that Mr Sharif had been unfit to plead at the time of his trial.

Mr Sharif’s ability to understand the nature of the charges against him and to give evidence had been significantly impaired.

In these circumstances, there was a real possibility that the Court of Appeal would conclude that Mr Sharif had been unfit to plead, should not have been tried on the substantive issue, that he did not have a fair trial, and that his conviction was accordingly unsafe.

The CCRC referred the conviction in March 2010.

The Court of Appeal quashed the conviction in July 2010.