Briton held in US on arms dealing charges set to walk free on $1m bail

A retired British businessman extradited to the United States over arms dealing charges has been granted bail and could be released as early as today.
By The Newsroom
Published 24th Apr 2012, 07:00 BST

Christopher Tappin, 65, of Orpington, Kent, will be released from the Otero County detention centre in New Mexico either today or tomorrowy, said his United States lawyer Kent Schaffer.

Judge David Briones set bail at $1m (£620,527) and Tappin’s family must pay $50,000 (£31,026) before he can be released, documents filed at the US district court in the Western District of Texas showed.

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Tappin’s wife, Elaine, said last night she was relieved and “grateful for the judge’s humanity” and confirmed family members will visit him as soon as possible.

Tappin was told last month he must remain in custody while he awaits trial in El Paso, Texas. He could be freed as early as today, but will have to remain in Texas.

He faces up to 35 years in jail if convicted of trying to sell batteries for surface-to-air missiles to Iran. He denies the charges.

The case has fuelled the row over the fairness of the extradition treaty between the UK and the US.

Attorney General Dominic Grieve QC said Tappin’s extradition highlighted problems with the treaty which were not “readily curable”.

Related topics:TexasKent