Fraud-case tycoon vows to sue police for wrongful arrest in bail clash

Former Polly Peck tycoon Asil Nadir has vowed to issue a writ against police for wrongful arrest following his release from custody.

The 69-year-old, who is on bail and faces a multi-million-pound theft trial next year, was arrested at his home on Saturday for allegedly breaching a midnight to 6am curfew that was part of his bail terms.

But last night he emerged from Charing Cross police station in London without being charged and with a police apology.

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Speaking on the police station steps, Nadir said: "Unfortunately, I have been a victim of an unlawful arrest, claiming that I had broken my bail conditions. That was not the case.

"I have been released with an apology but I am hoping that this sort of unlawful behaviour, as I have claimed for many years, does not take place in this country.

"It's such a great shame for this country."

Nadir, supported by his 26-year-old wife Nur and barrister William Clegg QC, went on: "But anyway, I have been released with an apology.

"I was visited in the house by police officers and told I had broken my bail conditions.

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"As you know, I have a 12 to six condition to be in my house.

"I was in my house with several witnesses, closed circuit TV cameras in my house, and I have never broken this bail.

"But they said that I had broken it, which was not the case, but now we have been told the tagging machine and everything showed that I was in the house as I had said.

"We are taking, on Monday morning first thing, we are issuing a writ, taking proceedings against the people that have created this most unfortunate situation."

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The former Tory party donor, who lives in Mayfair, enjoyed a game of backgammon at home on Friday night with his friend, Atai Kunter, the Cypriot industrialist said.

A Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed that Nadir was released and said no further action would be taken.

Nadir was originally charged with 66 offences of theft alleging a 34m fraud following the collapse of his Polly Peck empire.

He fled in 1993 to northern Cyprus before the counts – put into fewer condensed charges – could be put to him at trial.

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