Not exactly sure why these guys are getting extradited, but it seems very wrong to me ...
British Bankers
British Bankers
The case of the three bankers falls under UK legislation in force since January 2004 that was designed to speed up the transfer of suspected terrorists to the United States.
Under treaty, the United States is able to demand a Briton's extradition without having to provide any evidence, although Britain has to prove its case in a U.S. court to extradite U.S. citizens to the United Kingdom.
The three, who worked for NatWest Bank, now part of Royal Bank of Scotland , are alleged to have conspired with Enron executives, including former Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fastow, over the sale of a stake in an Enron entity in 2000, which made them $7.3 million (4 million pounds).
Mulgrew, speaking outside the court said: "We are shocked by the verdict." It was a worrying development for many people, he said.
Bermingham told reporters the case would have a profound impact not just on the three but on many others who are also facing extradition proceedings.
"Regrettably it seems that this government is quite content to use its own citizens as political currency to curry favour with another government," he said. "For the first time in my life I am ashamed to be British."
The former bankers, who deny the fraud allegations, had insisted they should face trial in Britain. They also claim the U.S. government is trying to extradite them only to bolster its case against other Enron defendants.
At a November appeal hearing in the case, Lord Justice John Laws and Justice Duncan Ouseley questioned why the U.S. government wanted to extradite the men when they are accused of defrauding a Royal Bank of Scotland unit, Greenwich NatWest, rather than Enron.
British business leaders have complained that the United States is abusing the treaty to target white-collar criminals.
Under treaty, the United States is able to demand a Briton's extradition without having to provide any evidence, although Britain has to prove its case in a U.S. court to extradite U.S. citizens to the United Kingdom.
The three, who worked for NatWest Bank, now part of Royal Bank of Scotland , are alleged to have conspired with Enron executives, including former Chief Financial Officer Andrew Fastow, over the sale of a stake in an Enron entity in 2000, which made them $7.3 million (4 million pounds).
Mulgrew, speaking outside the court said: "We are shocked by the verdict." It was a worrying development for many people, he said.
Bermingham told reporters the case would have a profound impact not just on the three but on many others who are also facing extradition proceedings.
"Regrettably it seems that this government is quite content to use its own citizens as political currency to curry favour with another government," he said. "For the first time in my life I am ashamed to be British."
The former bankers, who deny the fraud allegations, had insisted they should face trial in Britain. They also claim the U.S. government is trying to extradite them only to bolster its case against other Enron defendants.
At a November appeal hearing in the case, Lord Justice John Laws and Justice Duncan Ouseley questioned why the U.S. government wanted to extradite the men when they are accused of defrauding a Royal Bank of Scotland unit, Greenwich NatWest, rather than Enron.
British business leaders have complained that the United States is abusing the treaty to target white-collar criminals.
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