TNAG-2389-FCO40-3471-Extradition-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-case-of-Lorrain-Esme-Os-1991 — Page 181

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From: THE PRIVATE SECRETARY

HKD 384/1

RECEIVE

Dear Stephens MAY 199

DESK OFFICE?

INDEX

PA

CONFIDENTIAL

Mr. Colvin, SEAD

Don Tax

es

PS/Land Caithness квалния Legal Adv.

LORRAIN OSMAN

The Morris Morted some,

m/selfs pl.

301~ polio 47 30/5

HOME OFFICE

QUEEN ANNE'S GATE

LONDON SWIH 9AT

23 May 1991

The attached draft, which has been prepared jointly with the FCO, is intended to serve two purposes. First it deals with the matter raised when Dr Mahathir .. met the Prime Minister on 19 December of Osman's possible transfer, assuming eventual conviction in Hong Kong, to a prison in Malaysia or even the United Kingdom. Second, it provides a revised paragraph in response to Dr Mahathir's letter of 23 December, as requested in Charles Powell's letter to me of 29 January. I am sorry that I have not written sooner, but it took FCO some time to provide a contribution. The Home Office interest is principally in the final paragraph.

Osman is warted in Hong Kong on some 40 fraud and similar charges involving US$800 million. He has been fighting extradition for over five years and is our longest outstanding extradition case. The reason is his extended recourse to litigation. He has made two applications to the European Court of Human Rights and five applications for habeas corpus. Because of his propensity for litigation, we need to formulate any comments about his case with care, and the enclosed draft has been cleared with Legal Advisers both in the FCO and Home Office, as well as our respective Ministers.

Bloody cheek!

I am copying this to Simon Gass (FCO).

yours sincerely Pane hol

PAUL-PUGH____

THIS IS A COPY

THE ORIGINAL HAS BEEN

CLOSED UNDER

(i)+40(2)

FOI EXEMPTION NO. 27(1) + 40(2)

Stephen Wall Esq Private Secretary 10 Downing Street London SW1

CONFIDENTIAL