TNAG-2956-FCO40-4233-Hong-Kong-trial-of-Lorrain-Osman--Malaysian-businessman-1993 — Page 41

FCO40 Hong Kong Department Records 聯邦事務部香港部檔案 All

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MDLIAN 1559

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FM KUALA LUMPUR

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INFO PRIORITY HONG KONG

FCO TELNO 617 TO HONG KONG:

LORRAIN OSMAN

Mrs B, J

I imagine for those promment Arsons who amo cined the scleres with the "Free Lorrorin Osman' circus must be feeling pretty foolish an

a

at 'x

no.

exactly?",

But I imagine that a vindictive Kevin Cahill might seek to matte

imuendo out of the judgement deal of immendo

"What is fol, Slaner implying 1. OSMAN'S GUILTY PLEA AND SUBSEQUENT ONE-YEAR SENTENCE HAVE BEEN he might REPORTED PROMINENTLY HERE. THE COVERAGE INCLUDED PASSING REFERENCES TO THE REVIVAL BY LORRAIN'S DEFENCE COUNSEL OF EARLIER SUGGESTIONS OF MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT COMPLICITY IN THE BMF AFFAIR. BUT THE WHOLE TONE HAS BEEN TO STRESS THAT LORRAIN'S CONFESSION AND CONVICTION DEMONSTRATE THAT HE AND HIS IMMEDIATE ACCOMPLICES WERE SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FRAUD.

2. COPIES OF THE KEY ARTICLES FOLLOW BY BAG.

COMMENT

ask.

Them Destroy

J29/6

3. PRIME MINISTER DR MAHATHIR SAID DURING A RECENT PRESS CONFERENCE THAT HE DID NOT EXPECT THE BMF AFFAIR TO GO AWAY ALTOGETHER. IT WAS NOT ENTIRELY CLEAR WHAT HE MEANT BY THIS PROBABLY THAT THERE WILL BE FURTHER PRESS INSINUATIONS ABOUT THE MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT'S ROLE DESPITE THE LORRAIN CONVICTION. THE GOVERNMENT HERE WILL NONETHELESS BE RELIEVED BY THE WAY THE CASE IN HONG KONG HAS GONE, AND ANY VESTIGIAL DANGER OF THE LORRAIN OSMAN CASE RE-EMERGING AS A PROBLEM IN OUR BILATERAL RELATIONSHIP WITH MALAYSIAN HAS DISAPPEARED.

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