Threat to imprison Biggs’s captors

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33455, 9 February 1974, Page 13

Threat to imprison Biggs’s captors

<ALZ. Press Association—Copyright) RIO DE JANEIRO, February 8. Brazil threatened to imprison two Scotland Yard detectives for attempting to arrest the great train robber, Ronald Biggs, on Brazilian soil, a Rio de Janeiro newspaper, “O Globo.” reports.

The newspaper also reports that Biggs has ■claimed that he was betrayed to ihe British police by the London newspaper, the “Daily Express.” ; “O Globo,” the only newspaper to have had any success in talking to Biggs, says {the incident came close to (producing a serious diplo(matic clash between Brazil land Britain. I “1 was betrayed” was the {only statement made by Biggs Ito a Federal Police Inspector, (Carlos Alberto Garcia, the

. day after his capture, “O; . Globo” says. The alleged betrayal oc-j curred after Biggs wrote to 1 London offering his story to 1 the “Daily Express” because ' he needed money. The newspaper accepted the offer, but also advised Scotland Yard . of Biggs’s whereabouts leading to the eventual arrest, ' Biggs is said to have claimed. ’ The detectives wanted to ’ take Biggs back to England - on the night of his capture. 1 using a false passport, in the name of his alias, Michael iiJohn Haynes, “O Globo” said. 5 This had angered the , (Brazilian authorities. Soon ; I afterwards Biggs was put

under preventive arrest by the Brazilian police. When Biggs arrived. in Brasilia, handcuffed and guarded, he told reporters that he had been forced to sign a statement that he would voluntarily return to England, where he would; have to complete a sentence; of 30 years imprisonment. { “1 wish to remain ini Brazil. The paper which 1| signed saying that I wanted) jto return to England does not) (represent my wish. 1 was (forced to sign it by the two: (Scotland Yard detectives.” | I The detectives. Inspector; Jack Slipper and Sergeant) (Peter Jones, returned to Lon-1 don on Monday night after) Brazilian authorities decreed: the preventive arrest of I the fugitive Englishman, who) is 44, for a period of 60 days. I The British Government | was told to request his extradition. As no extradition treaty exists between Britain and Brazil, the British now have 60 days to request extradition through diplomatic chan-; nels, but the procedure will! 'probably take much longer. (