CAMPAIGNERS working to free a man jailed in India for alleged cannabis possession today expressed frustration after yet another setback in his case.

Ian Stillman, whose parents Roy and Monica live in Tadcaster Road, York, was jailed for ten years in June for allegedly possessing 20kg of cannabis.

Mr Stillman, who is deaf and disabled, has always denied the charge - but has been in Kanda Jail, near Shimla, since his arrest in August last year.

He was convicted after a trial conducted in Hindi and without anyone to "sign" the proceedings so he could understand them.

His appeal was due to begin yesterday, but was called off for an unspecified reason - and it could be weeks before the appeal returns to court.

Campaign group Fair Trials Abroad said it believed it was because one of the judge's daughters is deaf - and so he risked accusations of bias.

Stephen Jakobi, director of Fair Trials Abroad, said everyone at the group was "frustrated as hell" at the delay.

But he said that given the circumstances of Mr Stillman's conviction, his appeal must succeed.

He said: "I can't see how it can fail. He was shut up without being given proper interpretation of the proceedings.

"No court in its right mind should refuse this appeal."

Mr Jakobi said the delay could cause "serious problems", as it is not yet known when the appeal has been listed for.

He added: "It could be several weeks or months. We are all frustrated as hell, as are his family, but there is little alternative but to wait for the appeal to return to court.

"On the positive side, he (Mr Stillman) has an excellent legal team. They are heavyweights who volunteered to come down from Delhi.

"We are not worried about that side of things."

Mr Stillman's father said he and his wife were not surprised at the delay.

But he questioned why the judge was given the case in the first place.

He told the Evening Press: "We are used to this. It isn't the first time there has been a delay - there has been disappointment all the way down the line.

"We did wonder if it would go ahead as soon as we heard that one of the judges has a deaf daughter.

"It seemed odd that they appointed him in the first place, and, seemingly, it has led to yet another postponement.

"We are all remaining positive - there is little point in dealing with this any other way."

Mr Stillman has lost weight, but is "cheerful" and has recently been moved to a ground floor cell with his own bed, his father added.

Updated: 11:05 Wednesday, September 26, 2001