One-way ticket

US prosecutors no longer need to provide evidence of criminality when seeking extradition of British citizens to stand trial for fraud. How has this state of affairs been reached and how can it be justified, ask Jeremy Summers and Thomas Garner of Russell Jones & Walker.

Jeremy Summers, Partner and Thomas Garner, Assistant work in the Fraud and Regulatory Investigations Department, Russell Jones & Walker, London. Jeremy may be contacted on tel: +44 (0) 20 7447 8323; email: j.summers@rjw.co.uk

On 28 August 2006 the United States announced that it would seek the extradition of Jeremy Crook to face charges of fraud relating to his former employment at Peregrine Systems Inc. Peregrine collapsed in 2002 leaving shareholders US$4 billion out of pocket. It subsequently applied for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection before being sold to Hewlett Packard in 2005. Mr Crook, 53, a former European Vice President faces up to 85 years’ imprisonment if found guilty of the offences, which allege conspiracy, securities fraud, wire fraud and the falsification of financial records.