Further to the letter sent by my right hon. Friend the Member for Makerfield then the Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Department of Trade and Industry of 22 May to the governor of Florida in support of Krishna Maharaj’s clemency petition, our consul in Orlando attended Mr, Maharaj's clemency waiver hearing on 9 August.
The Aides to the Florida Clemency Board granted a waiver which means his clemency case could be heard by the full clemency board, including Governor Crist, as early as December. We welcome this decision and remain in close contact with Mr. Maharaj's legal team about the full consideration of his clemency plea by the Florida Clemency Board.
We continue to offer appropriate consular assistance to Mr. Maharaj and our consul in Orlando last visited him on 24 August.