TNAG-2389-FCO40-3471-Extradition-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-case-of-Lorrain-Esme-Os-1991 — Page 111

RESTRICTED

From:

THKD 384/1

Date:

Cc:

ESK

5 JUL 1991

CEF

PA

Mr Stewart

Mr Burns

PS/Sir Robin Butler

.STRY

laker

60

Me Hague,

MJ 4/1

+ pa

PB Yaghmourian

SEAD

2 July 1991

Sir John Coles o/r

Mr Morris, HKD

Morris,

Mr Parker, Legal Advisers

Mr Davies, PRU (fi)

Mr Underwood, C5, Home Office

LORRAIN OSMAN: ALLEGATIONS OF CORRUPTION

Problem

He

1. Niall Andrews MEP has written to Sir Robin Butler with reference

to allegations of corruption in the Lorrain Osman case.

complains that Osman has been held in prison for 5 years.

Recommendation

2. I recommend that Sir Robin should give a robust reply, making it

clear that the allegations have been investigated and rejected by

the courts on several occasions, and that Osman's prolonged detention is due to his extensive use of the appeals procedure. submit a draft letter. HKD, Legal Advisers and the Home Office

concur.

I

A

B

Background and Argument

3. Mr Andrews raises the case of Lorrain Osman, a Malaysian detained in the UK pending extradition to Hong Kong to face charges of fraud, in a letter to Sir Robin Butler of 21 June. The formal

complaint to which he refers was sent by Kevin Cahill, a journalist

who has worked closely with Osman's solicitors to publicise his

case, in March. Mr Cahill said he was enclosing a "formal complaint

MA1ADF