HC Deb 28 February 1994 vol 238 cc647-8
33. Mr. Skinner

To ask the Attorney-General what recent progress the Serious Fraud Office has made regarding the Asil Nadir case.

The Attorney-General

The Serious Fraud Office is ready to bring Mr. Nadir to trial as soon as he returns to the jurisdiction.

Mr. Skinner

Will the Attorney-General tell us whether the Government, the Serious Fraud Office or he himself have been in negotiation with Asil Nadir's lawyers with a view to trying to get him to plead guilty to one of the lesser charges—as was the case with Levitt—so that he can get off on the more serious charges? Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman give a guarantee to the House today that in no circumstances will he or the Serious Fraud Office allow Asil Nadir to have those charges against him dropped so that he gets a plea on a lesser charge?

The Attorney-General

I know of no such negotiations.