85.
них 384
RECEN
19 OCT 1993
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FM PARIS
TELNO
TO IMMEDIATE FCO
1006
OF 081911Z OCT
:STRY
on Tower
INFO IMMEDIATE HONG KONG
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in Woodrow
pu 389/1
v. encouraging. However this pans out, we should thank Panis at some juncture for all their heard wowot Planove discuss white Hi Morina
1116 A1ST.
861
140046
MDHIAN 8551
Q DIST ?
Bu 290 29/10.
FROM FRAM
MY TELNO 996: EXTRADITION TO HONG KONG FROM FRANCE OF SANIMAN
SUMMARY
1.
EXCELLENT OUTCOME: CONSEIL
CONSEIL D'ETAT HEARS SANIMAN CASE. D'ETAT LIKELY TO DECIDE IN OUR FAVOUR. WE INTERVENE WITH JUSTICE AND INTERIOR MINISTIES TO TRY TO REDUCE RISK OF SANIMAN'S FLEEING FRANCE.
DETAIL
2.
THE CONSEIL D'ETAT MET IN FORMAL SESSION THIS AFTERNOON
8 OCTOBER TO HEAR THE SANIMAN CASE.
3.
AFTER THE RAPPORTEUR SET OUT THE MAIN FACTUAL POINTS, OUR LAWYER MME MASSE PUT OUR CASE. IN PARTICULAR SHE:
=
ASSURED THE CONSEIL D'ETAT OF THE FAIR TREATMENT SANIMAN WOULD RECEIVE WERE HE TO RETURN TO HONG KONG, AND THE STANDARDS OF HONG KONG JUSTICE.
- SET OUT OUR ARGUMENTS OF FACT, IN PARTICULAR THAT SANIMAN HAD SET UP SOME FRONT COMPANIES BEFORE ALL FUNDS HAD BEEN DIVERTED, AND THAT THEREFORE HE HAD COMMITTED A FRAUD AS DEFINED BY FRENCH LAW WHICH WAS EXTRADITABLE UNDER THE FRANCO-BRITISH EXTRADITION TREATY.
ARGUED WHY OUR APPEAL TO THE CONSEIL D'ETAT WAS ADMISSIBLE. DEALT WITH SOME OF THE TECHNICAL POINTS THAT SANIMAN'S LAWYERS HAD RAISED IN WRITING (EG ROLE OF THE GOVERNOR OF HONG KONG IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS, FORM OF EMBASSY NOTE VERBALE SEEKING EXTRADITION ETC).
4.
SANIMAN'S LAWYER SPOKE NEXT. AFTER UNNECESSARY SIDESWIPES ON THE NATURE OF BRITISH AND HONG KONG JUSTICE, HE:
CLAIMED THAT SANIMAN WAS BEING MADE A SCAPEGOAT FOR CRIMES COMMITTED BY OTHER MEMBERS OF THE TAN GROUP.
ARGUED THAT THE CASE WAS NOT ADMISSIBLE IN THE CONSEIL D'ETAT. REPEATED SOME OF THE TECHNICAL ARGUMENTS IN HIS WRITTEN PAPER TO
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