Mr Asil Nadir has returned to the UK from Northern Cyprus in order to fight to clear his name and get justice after almost two decades of exile. Mr Nadir comments "We've a mission to fulfil. Somehow, having endured this injustice for 20 years, I feel it's time now to put closure to this in a most acceptable way."
The defence team from Bark & Co Solicitors with Mr William Clegg QC and Mr Dean Armstrong are committed to ensuring the delivery of a fair legal process that had been previously been denied to our client.
2. Mr Asil Nadir has returned to the UK from Northern Cyprus
in order to fight to clear his name and get justice after
almost two decades of exile. Mr Nadir comments "We've a
mission to fulfil. Somehow, having endured this injustice
for 20 years, I feel it's time now to put closure to this in a
most acceptable way."
The defence team from Bark & Co Solicitors with Mr
William Clegg QC and Mr Dean Armstrong are committed
to ensuring the delivery of a fair legal process that had
been previously been denied to our client.
3. Mr Nadir returns today to the UK to fight for justice. This follows
last month's successful application in the Central Criminal Court
(the Old Bailey) that enabled his return from Northern Cyprus to
fight the charges against him.
Mr Nadir agreed to an exclusive interview with Sky News to talk
about why he is returning to fight the accusations against
him. Watch a pre-interview here.
Sky News will be broadcasting a special documentary "Unfinished
Business: Return Of Asil Nadir" at 7.30pm on Friday 27th August.
The Times has been granted access to Mr Nadir's preparations to
return to the UK and also with coverage and a video interview.
4. BBC news reports his return here
ITN covers his return here.
Mr Nadir will appear before the Central
Criminal Court (the Old Bailey) on Friday 3rd
September for an initial hearing, where a
timetable for the case will be decided. Bark &
Co Solicitors will then advance an abuse of
process argument.
5. Following meetings with Mr Nadir, Bark & Co have instructed Mr
William Clegg QC and Mr Dean Armstrong both of 2 Bedford Row
Chambers. After a long and lengthy examination of all previous
Court appearances, a important discovery was uncovered by the
team which led to the matter being listed for a hearing at the
Central Criminal Court (the Old Bailey) today.
Despite previous advice that the Court would not entertain any
bail application being heard in the absence of Mr.Nadir, our
defence team disagreed with this approach and were shown to be
correct in their interpretation of the present situation. Mr Justice
Bean agreed with the application being heard in spite of the SFO's
objections. The outcome was that bail was granted and the
outstanding arrest warrant was quashed.
6. For the first time since 1993, it was conceded that Mr.Nadir was
free to obtain a British passport so that he could return to the UK
on condition that he appeared at the Old Bailey on the 3rd
September 2010. The arrest warrant was also dismissed because it
was agreed that technically Mr. Nadir was not on bail in 1993.
The Times Reports on 7th June 2010:
“Asil Nadir has instructed lawyers in a fresh attempt to clear a path
for his return to Britain, The Times has learnt. Mr Nadir, 69, who
was a Conservative Party donor, fled to northern Cyprus in 1993 to
avoid a £34 million fraud trial centered on the collapse of his Polly
Peck business empire. His decision to abscond forced the
resignation of Michael Mates, a junior minister in John Major’s
Government, and provoked a political scandal."
7. Mr Nadir, who now runs a media company in Northern
Cyprus, wants to return to argue that there was a grave abuse of
process in the case brought against him by the Serious Fraud
Office (SFO). He alleges that the police and the SFO placed the
Judge in his case under improper pressure, made false allegations
of corruption against him and his advisers and seized documents
that were necessary for his proper defence.
As a wanted man, Mr Nadir would face arrest if he returned to
Britain. It is understood he wants a guarantee of bail if he returns
to fight his case. He has hired Bark & Co, the London Solicitors
specialising in Criminal Fraud defence work, and a leading QC
has been instructed to examine the case.
8. Press & Media Note:
Bark & Co Solicitors will co-ordinate all
interviews with our client. Any official press
releases, comments or statements will be
issued via this website. Please contact us at
contact@barkco.com with all enquiries
relating to this case or our client.
