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CIMA protests over 'NatWest Three' extradition. By Dan Martin

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11th Jul 2006
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The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) has written to the prime minister protesting against the extradition to the US of the so-called 'NatWest Three'.

In the letter, a copy of which was sent to AccountingWEB, the organisation criticised the fact that David Bermingham, Gary Mulgrew and Giles Darby are being extradited according to a treaty which the UK but not the US has signed.

CIMA said it was concerned that the action "appears to be effectively unilateral given that the UK has no reciprocal rights".

The three men are due to be sent to the US on Thursday on charges relating to the collapse of energy giant Enron.

They are accused of defrauding NatWest of £4m by advising it to sell part of Enron for less than its real value. After leaving the bank, the men bought the business and sold it on for a profit of £1.4m each.

The three men will be extradited under the treaty, ratified by London but not Washington, which means British citizens can be extradited by the US without prima facie evidence for offences committed in the UK. There is no reciprocal arrangement for the UK. The treaty was originally aimed at dealing with suspected terrorists.

In its letter to Tony Blair, CIMA, which is latest in a long list of organisations to protest against the extradition, said: "The lack of reciprocity is unacceptable and risks leading to a loss of confidence and an increasing reticence to do business in the US. This is at a time when the UK should be reaping the benefits of globalisation."

Home office minister Baroness Scotland of Asthal will fly to Washington on Thursday when she is expected to call on the US government to sign up to the treaty.

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By User deleted
11th Jul 2006 11:05

Right to be up in arms
If indeed the 3 men did defraud Natwest in the UK what on earth are we doing sending them to America for trial without even reviewing the case?

Surely any charges should be brought here first if these accusations have any basis whatsoever.

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By AnonymousUser
13th Jul 2006 18:26

It is sad---but I support them going.
The saddest thing about it is that the investing public do not get a fair hearing in the UK.

These three have almost admitted taking personal profit at the expense of the investing public---such as NatWest shareholders.

However, in the UK they would probably get away with it.

In the US the investors in Enron may at least feel that the fraudsters will be punished.

Jeff Lampert

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By listerramjet
11th Jul 2006 10:55

intent
many are quite rightly "up in arms" about the impact of this on the three people concerned, but the wider issue of how the bush blair alliance is abusing measures purportedly designed to thwart terrorists is surely something that all should be "up in arms" about - particularly in view of the powers currently being demanded in the UK by the police, not to mention ID cards.

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By dan06
13th Jul 2006 17:44

Natwest Three - the accountants' view
As the NatWest Three - Giles Darby, David Bermingham and Gary Mulgrew - arrive in the US after being extradited on charges relating to the collapse of Enron we are looking for our members' views on the case.

Should the NatWest Three have been extradited?

Let us know what you think by posting a comment below or by e-mailing us at [email protected]

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By davidghamilton
13th Jul 2006 10:32

Natwest Three
What I would like to know is when did we become liable to prosectution under the laws of the United States of America?

If the US have not signed the treaty then there is no agreement.

Personally I believe that if there is no reciprocity in this then why have it.

If the treaty was originally put forward to deal with terrorism has the spirit of the agreement been overstepped by this extradition ?

I find it very annoying to find that the UK govt seems not to have the back bone to tell the USA ... NO.

If these guys are guilty of giving bad advice on the possibility of making a gain by buying the company, legally I'm not sure where things stand on this, how ever if it was a UK company that was treated in this manner by an American I'm sure we would be told that we did not have to take the advice offered and there would be no reciprical arrangement where An American could be shipped to the UK and charged.

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