High British Official Guilty of Contempt
Britain’s Court of Appeal on Friday found Home Secretary (Interior Minister) Kenneth Baker guilty of contempt of court for failing to prevent the deportation of a Zairean teacher.
Three judges ruled 2 to 1 that Baker was in contempt “by reason of his personal decision” to order the Zairean, who was seeking asylum, to be deported May 2 though a judge had ordered his deportation delayed pending a court challenge. A review of his case had been scheduled on the same day he was deported to Kinshasa.
This is the first time a British government minister has been found guilty of contempt of court.
The opposition Labor Party called for Baker’s immediate resignation.
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