A TERRORIST cop killer and gang boss whose human rights battle to stay in the UK has cost taxpayers thousands is still walking our streets – after lodging yet another court appeal.
Crimelord Maksim Cela, 59, first claimed asylum, bleating that rival mobsters would kill him if he returned to Albania.
He later changed his story and launched a human rights court battle claiming deporting him would put him at risk of degrading treatment or torture.
Brazen Cela even secured a judgement from a UK immigration judge enabling him to remain anonymous until The Sun unmasked him after a 23-month legal fight.
The scheming crook lost his latest appeal against deportation in May after a hearing was told he was a liar.
But The Sun has learned that he is fighting on – this time in the Court of Appeal – in a move which could cost taxpayers a fortune.
The scandal has highlighted the difficulty of removing illegal arrivals once they arrive in the UK – as thousands more arrive each week on boats and the back of lorries.
Tory Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick said: “This appalling case says all we need to know about Britain’s broken asylum system.
“This terrorist, gangster and cop killer clearly has no right to stay in the UK but is playing the system like a fiddle and laughing at the law.
“He’s also walking our streets on bail when he is a clear threat to public safety.”
A government source told The Sun last night: “Cela has lodged an appeal forcing the Home Office to fight on to get him kicked out.
“A clear-cut case is being dragged out – it’s frustrating.”
Cela, who was born in the Albanian city of Lushnje, claims he was a car dealer who also worked in a dental clinic and a hospital.
But the UK asylum tribunal heard he was, in fact, a “violent terrorist” who planned to detonate a bomb at a 12,000-seat football stadium in 2000.
After the plot came to light in 2001, an Albanian court jailed him for five years.
He was later sentenced to 25 years in September 2006 for “terrorist” and weapons offences linked to the murder of a crimebusting Albanian police officer.
Cela walked free in December 2022, having served more than 23 years – and arrived at Heathrow Airport days after his release on a false passport.
His UK court case has so far incurred estimated costs to UK taxpayers of tens of thousands of pounds – which could spiral if he is given leave to appeal.
The crook is representing himself aided by his UK-based daughter, who is a trainee lawyer.
A single Lord Justice of Appeal salaried by UK taxpayers will now view files to decide if Cela’s latest appeal is arguable.
The case could then go to a much more costly full appeal before three Lord or Lady Justices.
A Home Office spokesman said: “This government deported almost 5,200 foreign national offenders in its first year in office, a 14% increase on the previous year.
“We will continue to do everything we can to remove these vile criminals from our streets.”
Klente Bano an Albanian policeman whose murder was plotted by Albanian gangster Maksim Cela[/caption]