Lesbos January 09, 2023 (SD) – -A Somali Migrant previously sentenced to a lengthy imprisonment for smuggling appeared in court today to appeal the sentence, with support from members of the European Parliament who claim that he was wrongly convicted.

In 2021, Mohamed Hanad Cabdi was sentenced to 142 years in prison in connection with the deaths of people on a boat carrying migrants from Turkey to the Greek island of Lesbos in 2020.

Mohamed claims that he took control of the boat after a Turkish smuggler abandoned it during the journey.

Two people died when the boat sank and 33 others were rescued. Some of the survivors have supported Mohamed’s claim, according to his lawyers.

A member of the European Parliament from Greece and other European MPs are leading a campaign to reconsider many similar sentences that have been handed down.