Former fugitive tycoon Asil Nadir has told a court that he fled Britain because he was a "broken man without hope". Nadir said he could not see how he could get a fair trial on theft charges in 1993. His offices had been raided, his papers seized and there was an allegation that an attempt had been made to bribe his trial judge. Nadir, 71, said: "I was a totally broken man. My health was in tatters, my hope of a fair trial was in tatters, I had zero hope of receiving a fair trial." Nadir was giving evidence at the Old Bailey where his trial for theft is in its fifth month. The former head of Polly Peck International (PPI) is accused of siphoning off £150 million from his business empire. The company was put into administration in 1990 with debts of £550 million. Nadir, of Mayfair, central London, denies 13 specimen counts of theft amounting to £34 million between 1987 and 1990. He fled Britain for his native Northern Cyprus before he could be tried, returning voluntarily in August 2010. The prosecution says his flight from the country for 17 years is evidence of dishonesty.

1. NADIR 'WAS BROKEN MAN WITH NO HOPE'

2. Former fugitive tycoon Asil Nadir
has told a court that he fled Britain
because he was a "broken man
without hope".
Nadir said he could not see how he
could get a fair trial on theft charges
in 1993.

3. His offices had been raided, his
papers seized and there was an
allegation that an attempt had been
made to bribe his trial judge.
Nadir, 71, said: "I was a totally
broken man. My health was in
tatters, my hope of a fair trial was
in tatters, I had zero hope of
receiving a fair trial."

4. Nadir was giving evidence at the Old
Bailey where his trial for theft is in its fifth
month.
The former head of Polly Peck
International (PPI) is accused of
siphoning off £150 million from his business
empire.

5. The company was put into administration in
1990 with debts of £550 million.
Nadir, of Mayfair, central London, denies 13
specimen counts of theft amounting to £34
million between 1987 and 1990.
He fled Britain for his native Northern
Cyprus before he could be tried, returning
voluntarily in August 2010.
The prosecution says his flight from the
country for 17 years is evidence of dishonesty.