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CONFIDENTIAL
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See reply Pla
Des 23/10
TO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG TELNO 903 OF 21 OCTOBER 74.
PERSONAL FOR GOVERNOR : GODBER.
1. GODBER'S COUNSEL SCRIVENER AND HIS SOLICITOR FUNNELL CALLED TO
SEE RUSHFORD AND STUART ON 21 OCTOBER.
2. THEY PRODUCED AFFIDAVIT DATED 15 OCTOBER FROM MRS GODBER TO WHICH WAS ANNEXED A WRITTEN STATEMENT DATED 9 OCTOBER GIVING HER ACCOUNT OF A MEETING WITH IRVINE OF THE HONG KONG POLICE AT
LEICESTER SQUARE UNDERGROUND STATION THAT DAY.
3. CRUCIAL PARAGRAPH OF HER ACCOUNT (FULL TEXT BY BAG) IS AS
FOLLOWS:
QUOTE MR IRVINE TOLD ME THAT MR PRENDERGAST MADE A DEAL WITH
H.K. POLICE, NOW IN PRISON IN HK).
THE DEAL WAS:- THAT IF
THAT HE SAW
WAS WILLING TO GIVE EVIDENCE IN COURT (ALSO, HK POLICE) GIVE MY HUSBAND, P F GODBER, A SUM OF MONEY- THEN HE, MR PRENDERGAST, WOULD DROP THE CHARGE
AGAINST
WIFE, PLUS A FURTHER CHARGE AGAINST
HIMSELF. MR IRVINE DID NOT SAY WHAT THE CHARGES WERE.
AGREED
TO DO THIS DEAL WITH MR PRENDERGAST.
UNQUOTE.
4. SCRIVENER SAID HE CAME HERE AS HE FELT IT IMPROPER FOR HIM TO ATTEMPT TO OBTAIN A STATEMENT DIRECT FROM IRVINE AS A PROSECUTION WITNESS. ACCORDING TO HIM AT NO STAGE HAD PROSECUTION GIVEN HIM
ANY HINT THAT A BARGAIN WAS MADE WITH
CONCERNING POSSIBLE
FURTHER CHARGES. THIS CONTRASTED WITH FACT THAT PROSECUTION DID
INFORM HIM ABOUT DEAL WITH
FUNNELL IS WRITING TO RUSSELL'S
FORMALLY ASKING WHETHER OR NOT THERE HAD BEEN ANY BARGAIN WITH BUT OTHERWISE SCRIVENER HAS SAID NOTHING TO PROSECUTION.
CONFIDENTIAL
/ 5. HE