TNAG-2390-FCO40-3472-Extradition-from-the-UK-to-Hong-Kong-case-of-Lorrain-Esme-Os-1991 — Page 129

From: Lord Caithness

To: Ray Whitney OBE MP

LORRAIN OSMAN

31

Thank you for your letter of 16 October, covering a letter from Mr Kevin Cahill about the Lorrain Osman case.

Mr Osman, a Malaysian businessman, has been detained in the UK since December 1985 pending extradition to Hong Kong to face charges of fraud. A lawyer, Osman has delayed extradition by his extensive use of the appeals procedure. rive applications for a writ of habeas corpus have been refused. A sixth is pending. Mr Osman has also made two unsuccessful applications to the European Commission of Human Rights. A background note by the Home Office, which summarises the full history, is enclosed.

Mr Cahill, a journalist, first contacted the FCO about this case in March 1991 when he wrote to the Legal Adviser, alleging corruption in the FCO. He received a robust response and subsequently withdrew his allegation. Mr Cahill has subsequent ly written several times, making various other allegations, most of which have in fact already been considered and rejected in the course of Osman's five habeas corpus applications. We do not consider it appropriate to make any further substantive comment to Mr Cahill, as the case is sub judice.

OK9ABO