Terror law bid to extradite bankers
THREE former NatWest bankers face extradition to the US on fraud charges under new laws primarily designed to combat the war on terror.
David Bermingham, Giles Darby and Gary Mulgrew are alleged to have plotted with two corrupt executives from US energy giant Enron.
The US justice department said they lied about the sale price of an investment banking arm and pocketed the £4m difference. It indicted them for 'wire fraud'.
US investigators want the trio in Texas after a three-day hearing starting today at Bow Street magistrates' court.
Their lawyer Mark Spragg said: 'They're bankers, not terrorists. What's wrong with our justice system that the US doesn't trust us to investigate and prosecute our own people.'
The US also wants to try a former boss from UK firm Morgan Crucible, fined for its role in a price-fixing cartel.
Events will be closely watched by other senior British executives who are under investigation in the US.
