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Asil Nadir money should be returned, ex-Tory treasurer says | Asil Nadir money should be returned, ex-Tory treasurer says |
(40 minutes later) | |
A former Conservative Party treasurer has called for donations from Asil Nadir's Polly Peck firm to be returned. | A former Conservative Party treasurer has called for donations from Asil Nadir's Polly Peck firm to be returned. |
Lord McAlpine said it would be morally wrong for the party to keep the money - donated between 1985 and 1990 - in the wake of Nadir's theft convictions. | Lord McAlpine said it would be morally wrong for the party to keep the money - donated between 1985 and 1990 - in the wake of Nadir's theft convictions. |
The Conservatives have previously insisted the money was received in good faith from a legitimate business. | The Conservatives have previously insisted the money was received in good faith from a legitimate business. |
Nadir, 71, was jailed for 10 years on Thursday for stealing nearly £29m from his Polly Peck empire. | |
'Tainted money' | 'Tainted money' |
Lord McAlpine was party treasurer at the time the donations were made. | Lord McAlpine was party treasurer at the time the donations were made. |
He now believes the party should have handed the cash back to Polly Peck's creditors when Nadir fled Britain in 1993 following the collapse of his empire. | He now believes the party should have handed the cash back to Polly Peck's creditors when Nadir fled Britain in 1993 following the collapse of his empire. |
Labour have also called for the return of the money. | Labour have also called for the return of the money. |
Lord McAlpine told the Daily Mail: "It is tainted money and it shames the Conservatives if they hang on to it. They have a moral duty to give it back. | Lord McAlpine told the Daily Mail: "It is tainted money and it shames the Conservatives if they hang on to it. They have a moral duty to give it back. |
"The moment he fled the country in 1993, to avoid criminal charges, it was obvious to me he was a complete conman. Frankly, the Tories should have given the money back in 1993. | "The moment he fled the country in 1993, to avoid criminal charges, it was obvious to me he was a complete conman. Frankly, the Tories should have given the money back in 1993. |
"But today the case is even clearer. There is a moral imperative for the money to be returned. The money was not Asil Nadir's to give although we thought it was at the time. | "But today the case is even clearer. There is a moral imperative for the money to be returned. The money was not Asil Nadir's to give although we thought it was at the time. |
"Therefore the Tory party has a duty to return it. It will speak volumes about the character of the modern Tory party if they don't do the right thing. I trust that David Cameron is an honourable man." | "Therefore the Tory party has a duty to return it. It will speak volumes about the character of the modern Tory party if they don't do the right thing. I trust that David Cameron is an honourable man." |
Prison sentence | Prison sentence |
It has been reported that Polly Peck's administrators have called for the return of £365,000 which they believe Nadir stole from his company. | It has been reported that Polly Peck's administrators have called for the return of £365,000 which they believe Nadir stole from his company. |
The Conservatives argue that they have never received any personal donations from Nadir, and they have no evidence that the money they did receive via his business interests was stolen. | The Conservatives argue that they have never received any personal donations from Nadir, and they have no evidence that the money they did receive via his business interests was stolen. |
Nadir stole from Polly Peck International, which was a major UK conglomerate until 1990 when it collapsed after a Serious Fraud Office investigation. | Nadir stole from Polly Peck International, which was a major UK conglomerate 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 solicitors said he maintained his innocence and would be lodging an appeal. | His solicitors said he maintained his innocence and would be lodging an appeal. |