Bryan Archer in court earlier this month. Photo / Alan Gibson
Tauranga multi-billion dollar fraud accused Bryan Archer was granted bail this morning and his extradition hearing further adjourned.
United Kingdom authorities still wanted the 59-year-old removed to London to answer allegations about his involvement in a massive counterfeit conspiracy against the Bank of England, Tauranga District Court heard
this morning.
For the Crown, Greg Hollister-Jones told Judge Thomas Ingram that the current warrant was likely to be amended and other charges added.
Mr Hollister-Jones asked for an adjournment to Tauranga's list court on December 11 following new developments in the case.
Some of Archer's alleged co-conspirators who had been on trial in London had been discharged on a "no case to answer" basis, he said.
That decision had now gone to the Court of Appeal.
Getting instructions from the UK was "not the easiest," said Mr Hollister-Jones.
Meanwhile, he had proposed some bail conditions.
Bill Nabney, representing Archer on behalf of his Auckland lawyer, sought bail on those terms and consented to the adjournment.
Judge Ingram granted the request, instructing that Archer live at a central city house, surrender his passport, report daily to police and not travel outside Tauranga.
"Do you understand the terms of the bail?" he asked.
"Absolutely, your Honour," replied a beaming Archer, who has been in custody since his arrest on November 6.
He was wearing the familiar grey cardigan he has sported at several previous court appearances, when he repeatedly sought bail and indicated he would fight the extradition order.
Six people were put on trial in London's Southwark Crown Court, for conspiring to defraud the Bank of England of $75 billion.
They allegedly claimed to have stockpiles of early 20th century bank notes, inherited from members of China's pre-communist government over 60 years ago, which they wanted to exchange for today's currency.
Prosecutors said the notes were forgeries.
The Hendon and Finchley Times reported this month that two of the accused - Ping Mak, 56, and Australian lawyer Ross Cowie, 62 - were cleared after a judge at Southwark Crown Court heard legal submissions from defence and prosecution barristers.
- NZPA
