London court hears Orams case

The High Court in London heard on Tuesday arguments for and against a property case, involving a British couple and a Greek Cypriot refugee, which has drawn the attention of legal circles and the media in that Cherie Booth Blair acts as the attorney for David and Linda Orams.

The case involves a court order from Cyprus for the return of land in the Turkish occupied part of the island, on which the Orams couple had built a house. The land belongs to Meletis Apostolides, a Greek Cypriot refugee. The court has also ordered the Orams to pay compensation to Apostolides for the loss of use of his property.

The British couple appealed against this ruling and a three day hearing began Tuesday before the High Court. The hearing will continue Wednesday.

Blair argued that David and Linda Orams found themselves unwittingly embroiled in this situation, which is the result of the Turkish invasion and are now running the risk of losing their family home in Britain.

Tom Birley, legal counsel for Apostolides, argued that the only way the Orams are not going to lose their family home is to abide by the Court ruling, to which Blair said that this cannot be implemented because in northern Cyprus there is another “legal” framework (administered by the Turkish Cypriot regime which no state but Turkey recognises). (CNA)