Directors 'at risk of extradition to US'

[emad]

By Jon Ashworth
The Times


UK COMPANY directors could be extradited to America for trial if even one US shareholder reads about an allegedly fraudulent scheme, according to a leading British barrister.

Alun Jones, QC, an expert on extradition law, told a conference in London that US authorities are increasingly looking beyond their borders. “A director of a publicly listed UK company could be extradited to the US to be tried for fraud if his company’s allegedly inaccurate reports are published in a US newspaper to a solitary US shareholder,” he said.

His comments come as three City bankers are fighting extradition to face charges in connection with the Enron scandal. The three men, who worked for Greenwich NatWest, the capital markets division of National Westminster Bank, say that they are innocent but are concerned that they would be denied a fair trial in the US.

Mr Jones said: “Many UK companies still believe that they need a US listing or a large US shareholder base before they are subject to US laws such as Sarbanes-Oxley but this is not the case.”
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,175-1571070,00.html

[makhno]

1. Cry me a river, scumbags

Poor babies thought they didn't even need to bother living out the rest of their wretched lives in a country without extradition treaties with the US.

[RC]

2. What right do we have to go into other countries and bring people

back here for trial? Do these other countries have the same rights over American citizens? Why of why not.

[phoebe]

3. just as long as the UK and Europe get to do the same..

what a treat that would be!

[reprobate]

4. They don't know how lucky they are.

There may come a time when directors and managers are not the targets of extradition, but the targets of snipers. In fact, I was extremly surprised that this didn't happen to enron management.

The justice system has shown itself to be biased in favor of those with the money to buy expensive mouthpieces. At some point the violen t among us will give up on it and start extracting their own justice.

It always happens. When government is sufficiently corrupt, people will create change. It's the only way real change happens.

[VegasWolf]

5. Good idea! Let's reverse it and send Booze's buddies ( Ken Lay et al )

to the UK where they might stand an honest trial. What's good
for the goose ....

[emad]

6. A cosy little nook awaits them at the Tower of London and later

at Traitors' Gate....