Pilot jailed in 1998 for perverting justice?

[ghost-rider]

Just read on the BBC website about Asil Nadir trying to return to UK to clear his name.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3076604.stm

I was intrigued by this paragraph :

In 1998 a pilot who flew Mr Nadir out of the UK on a private jet was jailed for two years for committing an act tending and intended to pervert the course of justice.
Is this true ?? Seems harsh to me to say the least!

[flyingdutchman]

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http://www.hri.org/news/cyprus/cmnews/1998/98-08-19.cmnews.html#03

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English, 98-08-19

Cyprus Mail: News Articles in English Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Cyprus Mail at <http://www.cynews.com/>
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Wednesday, August 19, 1998

[03] Nadir escape pilot jailed for two years

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A MAN who helped indicted businessman Asil Nadir escape Britain in a sensational flight to the occupied north of Cyprus was jailed for two years yesterday.

Peter Diamond, 57, was convicted on August 3 at the Old Bailey in London for obstructing justice by enabling Nadir, the former chairman of collapsed food and electronics conglomerate Polly Peck, to flee the reaches of British law in 1993.

"At best you were naive," Judge Michael Hyam told Diamond, who is a qualified pilot. "At worst, you showed a cynical disregard to the effect your actions might have on the administration of justice."

Nadir's escape, four months before he was scheduled to face trial in Britain on charges of theft, was a wild climax to one of Britain's more dramatic boom-and-bust stories. Polly Peck grew dramatically in the early 1980s, but eventually collapsed in 1991 with debts of $2.1 billion after investigators began probing irregularities in Nadir's finances.

Nadir claimed he could not get a fair trial in Britain and in May 1993 he jumped $5.2 million bail to flee the country. Diamond arranged for a light aircraft to fly Nadir to northern France, where the businessman boarded an executive jet bound for northern Cyprus.

Diamond did no flying on the journey, but accompanied Nadir and remained with him on the island until January 1998, when he returned to Britain on business and was arrested.

Nadir still faces 13 charges of theft in Britain involving 30 million pounds from his companies.

While Diamond has denied any wrongdoing, he said during his trial that he believed Nadir had been treated unfairly by British authorities and needed a chance to prepare his case before returning to Britain to face trial.

"I always thought it would be sorted. I never doubted his integrity," Diamond told the court during his trial.
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http://www.hri.org/news/cyprus/tcpr/1999/99-01-18.tcpr.html#01

TURKISH CYPRIOT PRESS AND OTHER MEDIA

Cyprus PIO: Turkish Cypriot Press and Other Media, 99-01-18

Cyprus Press and Information Office: Turkish Cypriot Press Review Directory - Previous Article - Next Article

From: The Republic of Cyprus Press and Information Office Server at <http://www.pio.gov.cy/>


No. 8/99 -- 16-17-18/1/99

[A] NEWS ITEMS


* [01] Pilot who helped Nadir escape, freed

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[01] Pilot who helped Nadir escape, freed
Citing the Associated Press, the Turkish Daily News reports that the British Court of Appeal freed pilot Peter Dimon who had been jailed for two years for helping indicted Asil Nadir escape Britain in 1993, four months before he was scheduled to face trial on charges of theft.The paper adds that Nadir chaired Polly Peck which grew dramatically in the early 1980s, but eventually collapsed in 1991 with debts of $2.1 billion after investigators began probing irregularities in Nadir´s finances.

Nadir still faces 13 charges of theft in Britain involving 30 million pounds ($48 million) from his companies.
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[ghost-rider]

Interesting ! Thanks for that flyingdutchman.

[Gaza]

Is this true ?? Seems harsh to me to say the least!

Nothing harsh about it. He knowingly helped someone who was on bail flee the UK. Just because he felt that Nazir wasn't getting a fair chance is no excuse.

[airmail]

Gaza

Whilst I happen to agree with your comment, at the time that Nadir fled the UK he wasn't on bail which was why the Court of Appeal released the pilot on appeal.

airmail