Extradition-threat businessman blames sting by US agents

Christopher Tappin, 63, from Orpington, Kent, will face an extradition hearing in London in two weeks' time which will decide if he will be sent to the United States to face charges.

At a Press conference in London yesterday, Mr Tappin said: "Even though I am certain I did nothing wrong I would be happy to face trail in the United Kingdom and not the USA.

"I live here with my family and the alleged crimes were committed here."

He said his wife suffers from Churg-Strauss syndrome, a very serious condition causing inflammation of the blood vessels, and needed his constant support and attention.

If convicted, Mr Tappin faces up to 35 years in an American prison.

It is alleged he sold batteries, sourced in the US, for surface-to-air missiles to Tehran.

The Kent County Golf Union president denies the allegations and believes he was unwittingly caught up in a US customs sting.

"I deny these allegations," he said.

"I was the victim of the unlawful conduct of US agents who pretended to belong to a false company, known as Mercury Global Enterprises. It exists solely to ensnare unsuspecting importers.

"When negotiating with me, and when I raised my concerns about the licence agreement they assured me that 'this would not be a problem', however the same agents have been relied upon to accuse me of being responsible for not obtaining the licences.

"They misled me by sending me paperwork which clearly stated 'no license required'."

Mr Tappin's case has been taken up by solicitor Karen Todner, who represents Gary McKinnon who faces being extradited over allegations he hacked into Pentagon computers.

Her spokesman Ben Seifert said if Mr Tappin must face trial the case should be heard in Britain where the alleged crimes were committed.

Mr Tappin was a director of Surrey-based Brooklands International Freight Services.