'Asil Nadir jailed for 10 years for Polly Peck thefts' diff viewer (5/6)

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Version 5	Version 6
Asil Nadir jailed for 10 years for Polly Peck thefts	Asil Nadir jailed for 10 years for Polly Peck thefts
2012-08-23 12:00:04 UTC	2012-08-23 12:40:03 UTC (40 minutes later)
~~Former fugitive tycoon Asil Nadir has been jailed for a total of 10 years for stealing £29m ($46m) from his Polly Peck ~~business~~ empire 20 years ago.~~	Former fugitive tycoon Asil Nadir has been jailed for a total of 10 years for stealing nearly £29m ($46m) from his Polly Peck empire 20 years ago.
Nadir, 71, stole from Polly Peck International (PPI), a major UK company until 1990 when it collapsed after a Serious Fraud Office investigation.	Nadir, 71, stole from Polly Peck International (PPI), a major UK company until 1990 when it collapsed after a Serious Fraud Office investigation.
He fled the UK in 1993 while awaiting trial and went to northern Cyprus but returned in 2010.	He fled the UK in 1993 while awaiting trial and went to northern Cyprus but returned in 2010.
His wife, Nur, said outside court: "My husband is innocent."	His wife, Nur, said outside court: "My husband is innocent."
~~She said: "Having great faith in the British legal justice system we will continue to ~~try~~ to rectify the wrongs."~~	She said: "Having great faith in the British legal justice system we will continue with our efforts to rectify the wrongs."
The trial at the Old Bailey ended on Wednesday when Nadir was acquitted of three of the 13 sample charges.	The trial at the Old Bailey ended on Wednesday when Nadir was acquitted of three of the 13 sample charges.
He was sentenced to five years for each of seven of the thefts - two years less than the maximum - and five years for the other three but the judge, Mr Justice Holroyde, decided those terms should be consecutive.	He was sentenced to five years for each of seven of the thefts - two years less than the maximum - and five years for the other three but the judge, Mr Justice Holroyde, decided those terms should be consecutive.
He said Nadir would be eligible for release after serving half his sentence.	He said Nadir would be eligible for release after serving half his sentence.
	After the judge passed sentenced Nadir thanked the judge and the BBC's Home Affairs Correspondent Dominic Casciani said Nadir had been "unfailingly polite" throughout the trial.
	Our correspondent said it was unclear what had happened to the stolen money and there will be a further court hearing next month in an attempt to confirm Nadir's assets and agree compensation for PPI creditors.
Nadir is expected to return to Belmarsh prison in south east London, where he has been remanded in custody since Monday, but is set to serve his sentence elsewhere.	Nadir is expected to return to Belmarsh prison in south east London, where he has been remanded in custody since Monday, but is set to serve his sentence elsewhere.
In his sentencing remarks, the judge said Nadir had "outstanding business skills" and brought employment and financial benefit to many people around the world.	In his sentencing remarks, the judge said Nadir had "outstanding business skills" and brought employment and financial benefit to many people around the world.
But Mr Justice Holroyde said "You were a wealthy man who stole out of pure greed".	But Mr Justice Holroyde said "You were a wealthy man who stole out of pure greed".
He said: "The company's success was in many ways your success. But the company's money was not your money. You knew that. You nonetheless helped yourself to it and committed theft on a grand scale."	He said: "The company's success was in many ways your success. But the company's money was not your money. You knew that. You nonetheless helped yourself to it and committed theft on a grand scale."
The judge also said Nadir blamed everyone but himself - especially the Serious Fraud Office - when PPI collapsed and had failed to show any remorse since returning to Britain.	The judge also said Nadir blamed everyone but himself - especially the Serious Fraud Office - when PPI collapsed and had failed to show any remorse since returning to Britain.
Earlier his lawyer, Philip Hackett QC, said in mitigation that Nadir had coronary heart disease and high blood pressure.	Earlier his lawyer, Philip Hackett QC, said in mitigation that Nadir had coronary heart disease and high blood pressure.
But the judge said Nadir's ill health was a matter for the prison service and not a reason to reduce his sentence.	But the judge said Nadir's ill health was a matter for the prison service and not a reason to reduce his sentence.
Mr Hackett said he returned to Britain voluntarily to face "onerous court proceedings" despite being advised by doctors in his native Cyprus it would jeopardise his health.	Mr Hackett said he returned to Britain voluntarily to face "onerous court proceedings" despite being advised by doctors in his native Cyprus it would jeopardise his health.
Seven of the 10 jurors - two fell by the wayside during the trial - returned to hear Nadir being sentenced and his wife Nur, 28, sat by herself near the dock.	Seven of the 10 jurors - two fell by the wayside during the trial - returned to hear Nadir being sentenced and his wife Nur, 28, sat by herself near the dock.
Mrs Nadir has said her husband would appeal against his convictions.	Mrs Nadir has said her husband would appeal against his convictions.
Mr Hackett said Nadir was of good character and he said he should receive credit for being a "dynamic leader of outstanding ability" who created PPI virtually out of nothing.	Mr Hackett said Nadir was of good character and he said he should receive credit for being a "dynamic leader of outstanding ability" who created PPI virtually out of nothing.
But he admitted the fact his client had left was an aggravating factor.	But he admitted the fact his client had left was an aggravating factor.
Share price collapse	Share price collapse
The court was told that, up until July this year, the prosecution costs totalled £3,296,626.	The court was told that, up until July this year, the prosecution costs totalled £3,296,626.
PPI began as a small fashion company but expanded into the food, leisure and electronics industries under Nadir's ownership, growing into a business empire with more than 200 subsidiaries worldwide.	PPI began as a small fashion company but expanded into the food, leisure and electronics industries under Nadir's ownership, growing into a business empire with more than 200 subsidiaries worldwide.
In 1989 PPI bought the fresh fruit giant Del Monte for $875m.	In 1989 PPI bought the fresh fruit giant Del Monte for $875m.
By 1990 it was on the FTSE 100 index and was one of the stock exchange's best performing companies but the share price collapsed after the Serious Fraud Office raided PPI's offices.	By 1990 it was on the FTSE 100 index and was one of the stock exchange's best performing companies but the share price collapsed after the Serious Fraud Office raided PPI's offices.
Thousands of British investors lost money when the company crashed.	Thousands of British investors lost money when the company crashed.
After fleeing the UK, Nadir remained a fugitive in northern Cyprus until two years ago. The Turkish-controlled territory is not recognised as a state and has no extradition treaty with the UK.	After fleeing the UK, Nadir remained a fugitive in northern Cyprus until two years ago. The Turkish-controlled territory is not recognised as a state and has no extradition treaty with the UK.
Nadir has been convicted of stealing:	Nadir has been convicted of stealing:
£1.3m from PPI to pay for PPI shares in June 1989 £1m from PPI to pay for antiques in December 1989 £3.25m from PPI in March 1990 and placing it in 19 different end destinations £5.15m from PPI for the purchase of shares to prop up the company in August 1987 £5m from PPI to buy shares in the Gunaydin newspaper group in Turkey in July 1988 £1.3m from PPI to buy shares and help fund his expenses including the purchase of a Leicestershire country estate and farm in November 1988 £2.6m from PPI to pay for shares in travel company Noble Raredon in March 1989 £4m from PPI to invest in his investment trust which held shares in PPI in June 1989 £5m from PPI for various personal uses in August 1990 $500,000 from PPI to buy shares in an educational video company.	£1.3m from PPI to pay for PPI shares in June 1989 £1m from PPI to pay for antiques in December 1989 £3.25m from PPI in March 1990 and placing it in 19 different end destinations £5.15m from PPI for the purchase of shares to prop up the company in August 1987 £5m from PPI to buy shares in the Gunaydin newspaper group in Turkey in July 1988 £1.3m from PPI to buy shares and help fund his expenses including the purchase of a Leicestershire country estate and farm in November 1988 £2.6m from PPI to pay for shares in travel company Noble Raredon in March 1989 £4m from PPI to invest in his investment trust which held shares in PPI in June 1989 £5m from PPI for various personal uses in August 1990 $500,000 from PPI to buy shares in an educational video company.
~~Nadir claimed during his trial that his friends and relatives paid in ~~huge~~ ~~amounts~~ of Turkish lire in cash in Cyprus to offset the money which had been taken out.~~	Nadir claimed during his trial that his friends and relatives paid Turkish lire in cash into bank accounts in Cyprus to offset the money which had been taken out.
	The director of the SFO, David Green, said on Wednesday: "The conviction of Asil Nadir of theft on a grand scale from a public company 19 years after he fled the jurisdiction is a remarkable achievement."
In 1993 Michael Mates, then a Conservative minister and friend of the businessman, attacked the SFO's handling of the case in a speech in the Commons.	In 1993 Michael Mates, then a Conservative minister and friend of the businessman, attacked the SFO's handling of the case in a speech in the Commons.
Mr Mates, who is now 78, quit his junior minister job in the Northern Ireland Office in 1993 after it emerged he had bought Nadir a watch inscribed: "Don't let the buggers get you down".	Mr Mates, who is now 78, quit his junior minister job in the Northern Ireland Office in 1993 after it emerged he had bought Nadir a watch inscribed: "Don't let the buggers get you down".
Meanwhile, the Conservative Party has rejected calls to repay donations made by PPI in the 1990s.	Meanwhile, the Conservative Party has rejected calls to repay donations made by PPI in the 1990s.
A Labour MP had called for the party to pay back the money but the Tories says there is no evidence to suggest the money was stolen and the cash had come from a publicly-owned company not Nadir personally.	A Labour MP had called for the party to pay back the money but the Tories says there is no evidence to suggest the money was stolen and the cash had come from a publicly-owned company not Nadir personally.