British Judge Rules Three Bankers Are Extraditable in U.S. Enron Case

On October 15, 2004, British Judge Nicholas Evans ruled that three British bankers can be extradited to the U.S. to stand trial in charges of wire fraud related to off-balance-sheet transactions with Enron Corporation. Judge Evans made his decision based on the 2003 Extradition Act which does not require the presentation of evidence of "prima facie" guilt. The three relators ? David Bermingham, Gary Mulgrew and Giles Darby, all 42 ? plan to appeal the decision, which they have 14 days to do. British law gives the final decision to the home secretary, David Blunkett. They have denied wrongdoing and have not been charged with any offense in Britain. The U.S. government has requested their extradition on seven counts of wire fraud for transactions in the U.S. banking system. They are charged with conspiring with Enron executives to defraud their employer, Greenwich Nat West, of $7.3 million. Greenwich Nat West is part of the Royal Bank of Scotland...[more]