Tycoon vows to sue police over ‘unlawful’ arrest

Former Polly Peck tycoon Asil Nadir has vowed to issue a writ against police for wrongful arrest following his release from custody.

The 69-year-old, who is on bail and faces a multimillion-pound theft trial next year, was arrested at his home for allegedly breaching a midnight to 6 a.m. curfew that was part of his bail terms.

But on Sunday night he emerged from Charing Cross police station in London without being charged and with a police apology.

Speaking on the police station steps, Nadir said: “Unfortunately, I have been a victim of an unlawful arrest, claiming that I had broken my bail conditions. That was not the case.

“I have been released with an apology but I am hoping that this sort of unlawful behaviour, as I have claimed for many years, does not take place in this country.

Mr Nadir, supported by his 26-year-old wife Nur and barrister William Clegg QC, went on: “But anyway, I have been released with an apology.

“I was in my house with several witnesses, CCTV cameras in my house, and I have never broken this bail,” he said. A Scotland Yard spokesman confirmed that Mr Nadir was released and said no further action would be taken.

He was originally charged with 66 offences of theft alleging a £34 million fraud following the collapse of his Polly Peck empire.

He fled in 1993 to northern Cyprus before the counts could be put to him at trial. But on July 30 this year Mr Justice Bean was told he wanted to return to fight the case.