1 week ago
British Athletics Coach Leon Baptiste Serving Prison Term Morocco
Leon Baptiste is a British athletics coach who travelled to Morocco.
People in Britain could not contact him for more than two months and believed he was missing.
Moroccan officials later said he was in prison in Marrakech.
They said he had been arrested in May after being accused of sexually assaulting a minor.
He was convicted and given a 10-month sentence.
An appeal reduced the sentence to eight months.
The UK Foreign Office said it is helping him as a detained British citizen.
His absence disrupted training for several British athletes, and he later resigned by email, saying he was ill.
Leon Baptiste was arrested in Marrakech in May for sexually assaulting a minor, according to a Moroccan Justice Ministry source cited by BBC Sport.
He was convicted and initially sentenced to 10 months in prison, later reduced to eight months on appeal.
Baptiste is serving his sentence at Al-Oudaya prison in Marrakech, Moroccan authorities said.
UK officials said they are supporting a detained British national and remain in contact with Moroccan authorities.
Baptiste’s absence affected preparations for athletes including Charlie Dobson and Zac Shaw, and he resigned by email citing ill health.
- Who
- Leon Baptiste, a former Commonwealth Games 200m champion and UK Athletics consultant sprint coach.
- What
- He was convicted in Morocco in connection with the sexual assault of a minor and is serving a prison sentence.
- Where
- He is being held at Al-Oudaya prison in Marrakech, Morocco.
- When
- He was arrested in May; his sentence was reduced from 10 months to eight months on appeal. An email announcing his resignation was sent on August 19.
- Why
- Moroccan authorities said he was detained after being convicted in a misdemeanour case involving the sexual assault of a minor.
Initial reports of disappearance
Moroccan authorities’ account
Baptiste’s whereabouts
Initial reports of disappearance
Baptiste was believed to be missing after he could no longer be reached following his trip to Morocco.
Moroccan authorities’ account
A Moroccan Ministry of Justice source said he had not lost contact with his surroundings and was not subject to a disappearance or unexplained absence.
Reason for absence
Initial reports of disappearance
His sudden unavailability was reported in the context of preparations for British athletes and initially prompted concern about his whereabouts.
Moroccan authorities’ account
Moroccan authorities said he was being held in prison after conviction in a misdemeanour case involving the sexual assault of a minor.
Key facts
- Arrest
- May in Marrakech, Morocco
- Initial sentence
- 10 months in prison
- Appeal outcome
- Sentence reduced to eight months
- Current location
- Al-Oudaya prison in Marrakech
- UK response
- The Foreign Office said it is supporting a British national detained in Morocco.
- Coaching role
- Consultant sprint coach with UK Athletics
- Resignation
- Baptiste resigned by email on August 19, citing ill health.
Quotes
A Moroccan Ministry of Justice source
A source cited by BBC Sport from Morocco’s Ministry of Justice.
“The foreign national concerned had not lost contact with his surroundings and was not subject to any disappearance or unexplained absence. He is currently being held at the local prison in Marrakech, where he is serving a custodial sentence following his conviction by the competent judicial authorities in connection with a misdemeanour case.”
wionews.com
UK Foreign Office spokesperson
A spokesperson for the United Kingdom Foreign Office.
“We are supporting a British national who is detained in Morocco and are in contact with the authorities.”
wionews.com
Sources
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