Brixton chicken shop refugee, 57, who 'ran a network smuggling Sri Lankans across the Channel' to be extradited to France

A refugee accused of smuggling fellow Sri Lankans to Britain across the Channel will be extradited to France where he could be jailed for ten years.

Sathasivam Sivagankan, who lived in Colliers Wood, southwest London, was granted asylum after arriving in the UK in 2001 with his wife and two children.

The 57-year-old, who is part of the local Tamil community and worked in a fried chicken shop in Brixton, returned to Sri Lanka in 2004 and 2005 despite the conflict.

French prosecutors say Sivagankan is a key member of an international gang trafficking Sri Lankans to the United Kingdom, France and Switzerland. They would come from Romania, Italy, Germany, Hungary, Ukraine, Slovenia and Austria.

If convicted of human trafficking in France, Sivagankan faces ten years in prison.

Sivagankan is believed to be linked by telephone evidence to a foiled attempt to cross the English Channel on June 10, 2023.

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He said he should not be extradited to France because he cares for his wife, who suffers from mental health problems and notably has a fear of enclosed spaces.

A judge initially ordered his extradition in November 2022.

Sivagankan claimed at the time that he “was not aware of the investigation into me and others prior to my arrest in the UK.”

His lawyers expressed concern at Westminster Magistrates' Court that his wife would be left with no one left if he was extradited.

Dr Mareike Suesse said: “She may not feel comfortable showing her vulnerability to others, but of course that is based on what she has told me.

“It's impossible to say how she would react. Again, from my experience working with people with mental health issues, many people have mental health issues that don't open up to them, this may or may not be the case with Ms. Sivagankan.

“They (Mr. and Mrs. Sivagankan) were reluctant to be separated from each other, they both became more anxious about being separated for the assessment.

“They seemed to lean on each other a lot for reassurance, it's possible this is a sign of emotional co-dependency but I haven't assessed this formally.”

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Matei Clej, representing Sivagankan, told the court: “The seriousness and impact on her was amply demonstrated in Dr Suesse’s testimony. The assessment and description of it clearly shows that this is a strong relationship and bond.

“There is no surrogate mother, if I can put it that way, in a marital relationship of this length. The real question is whether her husband's extradition will have a serious psychological impact.

“An extradition in this case is disproportionate, simply because she is in a worse situation than she was.”

Mr Clej said Sivagankan had no previous convictions and had lived in the UK for years.

Amanda Bostock, on behalf of the French authorities, said: “It is important to remember the seriousness of the offence, it is the kind of offense which can carry a considerable penalty and has now been sentenced to a significant sentence of five years' imprisonment.

“He can be properly cared for in prison, his conditions could be managed in a prison setting.

“Regarding his wife, Dr. Suesse acknowledged that it is difficult to analyze a worsening of the situation when she has not completed the previous report.

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“She says she felt empowered to manage her mental health on her own through herbal remedies, over-the-counter remedies and meditation.”

“Dr Suesse had proof that she was gardening, cooking, cleaning, this is very different from the picture that has been painted that she is actually bedridden, this is clearly not the case. However Regardless, she's clearly someone who can take care of herself if her husband is away.

District Judge Daniel Sternberg rejected the arguments and ordered his extradition.

He said: “You appeared before me for extradition proceedings on May 9. I rejected the arguments put forward in your favor. I therefore formally order your extradition to France.

Sivagankan, who appeared in court alongside several family members, appeared confused as the decision was dictated to him by an interpreter.

He remains on bail with conditions including a £10,000 surety and a curfew before his extradition to France.