Lib Dem donor fraudster faces extradition hearing

Fugitive multi-millionaire fraudster and Liberal Democrat donor Michael Brown is set to face an extradition hearing in Spain early next week.
By The Newsroom
Published 23rd Apr 2012, 07:00 BST

Brown was arrested in the Dominican Republic in January and flown to Madrid on Saturday for handover to British officials.

He fled the UK to the Caribbean after being convicted of fraud at Southwark Crown Court in 2008 and was sentenced in his absence to seven years in jail.

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He was detained in the tourist town of Punta Cana over an unrelated fraud charge.

An Electoral Commission inquiry in 2009 found the Lib Dems accepted the fraudster’s donation in good faith and cleared the party of all wrongdoing.

A Lib Dem party spokesman said: “We completely welcome any further steps to bring this man to justice.”

A City of London Police spokesman said: “Michael Brown was deported from the Dominican Republic and landed in Madrid on Saturday morning, accompanied by officers from the Dominican Republic. City of London Police will be taking the appropriate steps to bring him back to the UK, via a European Arrest Warrant.”

Brown donated about £2.4m to the Lib Dems ahead of the 2005 General Election. He went on the run after stealing nearly £8m from the former chairman of Manchester United, Martin Edwards.

Related topics:Liberal DemocratSpainCaribbeanCity of London PoliceElectoral Commission