NatWest Three 'face up to nine years in jail'. By Dan Martin

Posted by AccountingWEB PM | on Tue, 18/07/2006 - 13:19 2083 5 comments

The NatWest Three would be sent to prison for between seven and nine years if convicted on fraud charges in the US, a leaked prosecution memo reveals.

'The Guardian' reports that the document shows that US authorities are seeking a far shorter sentence than that predicted by the supporters of David Bermingham, Giles Darby and Gary Mulgrew as an argument for preventing them from being extradited to Texas.

Continued...

This prosecution is welcome

richard.murphy | Tue, 18/07/2006 - 16:09 | Permalink

These guys may or may not be guilty, but I argue that there prosecution is to be welcomed at
http://www.taxresearch.org.uk/Blog/2006/07/18/the-natwest-3/

It is a pity!!!!

AnonymousUser | Thu, 20/07/2006 - 19:21 | Permalink

The shareholders of RBS and Enron will not get a fair trial in the UK. The management of RBS clearly will not prosecute.

Everyone seems to assume the NatWest three will not get a fair trial in Texas! As far as I am aware the Courts are both fair and independent in Texas.

It is a pity that there seems to be such a gulf between the American view, and therefore sentencing, of whitecollar crime and the UK view.

Surely that it was is highlighted by this case, and that is what needs to be addressed.

Jeff Lampert

Hi Richard

listerramjet | Wed, 19/07/2006 - 13:48 | Permalink

"These guys may or may not be guilty". At least that much is true Richard - and well done for spotting it. Some seem to have overlooked your last point.

I have a problem with the fact that they have been extradited to USA to face trial without anyone demonstrating to the British authorities that there is a case to answer. Forgive me for being picky, but the British system of justice is (and should be) at odds with that approach.

Taking the article presented here at face value it sounds like their guilt is prejudged and sentence pronounced. That of itself should preclude an extradition request. Doesn't sound like they will get a fair trial to me.

I can't help wondering what Judge John Deed would make of this Richard? Unfortunately I can't get your link to work, but I was also wondering what this has to do with tax justice?

Agree with Richard!!!

AnonymousUser | Wed, 19/07/2006 - 12:51 | Permalink

For the first I do agree with Mr Murphy on something.

Yes these 3 people should be prosecuted as it will enable them to prove their innocence or guilt either way. In fact they have been asking to be prosecuted to enable them to do this.

I do, however, fundamentally disagree with them being tried in the USA as it has almost nothing to do with the USA.

Allowing their extradition has made doing business anywhere in the world far more dangerous.

oh, come on Jeff

listerramjet | Fri, 21/07/2006 - 12:18 | Permalink

the whole thrust of this is that they are guilty as charged and there is jail time to serve