Ten years ago a businessman was held up and robbed by three men, but the businessman said he knew one of the men for about two years before the robbery.

He made a report to the police but the police did not catch the robbers and just last week the businessman said he was in Manchester when he saw one of the men.

discouraging him

The man is working at a businessplace and the businessman said he made sure that the man did not see him. He went home and told his wife and adult children that he saw the man who robbed him, but they are discouraging him from pursuing the case.

"When the men robbed me, I gave the police a description of the men and the one who I knew before, I even gave the police his nickname, and I really do not think he should get away with what he did," the businessman said.

"I was struck in my face with a gun and forced to lie face down on the floor while the men robbed me. After my ordeal I could not sleep for several nights. I had to close my businessplace early in the days because I really was very frightened and nervous."

should be punished

"I was robbed of a large sum of money and although I know I will not recover the money, I just feel that the one I saw last week working at a businessplace in Man-chester should be punished. The one I saw last week is the one I knew before."

"I was telling one of my friends about the case and he is of the view that because the incident happened so long ago, my case is out of time and cannot be prosecuted.

I disagreed with him but he is insisting that the case is out of time. Can you shed some light on the matter?"

You are correct when you tell your friend that a criminal case has no limitation. A person who commits an offence and runs away can be arrested and charged whenever that person is caught. The case can proceed to trial as long as the witnesses are available.