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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| NatWest Three to appear in court | NatWest Three to appear in court |
| (19 minutes later) | |
| Three British bankers extradited to the US on fraud charges will appear before a court later. | Three British bankers extradited to the US on fraud charges will appear before a court later. |
| David Bermingham, 44, Gary Mulgrew, 45, and Giles Darby, 44, the so-called NatWest Three, will go before a judge in Houston, Texas. | David Bermingham, 44, Gary Mulgrew, 45, and Giles Darby, 44, the so-called NatWest Three, will go before a judge in Houston, Texas. |
| All three were extradited from Britain in July last year on allegations relating to the collapse of US energy giant Enron. | All three were extradited from Britain in July last year on allegations relating to the collapse of US energy giant Enron. |
| The trio may have a case put against them at the 2200GMT hearing. | The trio may have a case put against them at the 2200GMT hearing. |
| Fast-track extradition | Fast-track extradition |
| Lawyers for the men said that they had been asked not to make any comment on the case, and so far all three have strongly proclaimed their innocence. | Lawyers for the men said that they had been asked not to make any comment on the case, and so far all three have strongly proclaimed their innocence. |
| The hearing is scheduled as a re-arraignment - which observers say may indicate that a plea bargain has been struck. | |
| A plea-bargain would mean the accused admitting their guilt in order to face lesser charges or for an agreed, or reduced, sentence. | |
| A report in the Houston Chronicle said the men were set to change their pleas from not guilty during the hearing on Wednesday in Houston federal court. | A report in the Houston Chronicle said the men were set to change their pleas from not guilty during the hearing on Wednesday in Houston federal court. |
| Prosecutors say that, in 2000, the three men advised their former employer, NatWest, to sell part of a company owned by Enron for less than it was worth. | Prosecutors say that, in 2000, the three men advised their former employer, NatWest, to sell part of a company owned by Enron for less than it was worth. |
| They then left the bank and bought a stake in the company before selling it on at a significantly higher price and making a huge profit, it is claimed. | They then left the bank and bought a stake in the company before selling it on at a significantly higher price and making a huge profit, it is claimed. |
| The case hit the headlines as the three men fought against their extradition to the US. | The case hit the headlines as the three men fought against their extradition to the US. |
| They were extradited under a new fast-track system agreed by the British government and face up to 35 years in prison. | They were extradited under a new fast-track system agreed by the British government and face up to 35 years in prison. |
| They have been on bail since shortly after their extradition but have been barred from returning to the UK before their trial. | They have been on bail since shortly after their extradition but have been barred from returning to the UK before their trial. |