US pursuit of UK tech tycoon Mike Lynch on fraud charges may last for years, lawyers claim
British tech tycoon Mike Lynch faces being pursued by American authorities for years even if his extradition is blocked, his lawyers warned yesterday.
The 55-year-old businessman is fighting US authorities who want to try him for fraud charges.
Yesterday, one of his lawyers, Christopher Morvillo, admitted that even if the extradition attempt fails, Lynch could be arrested in future if he travels outside the UK to an area with an extradition treaty with the US.
Wanted: Tech tycoon Mike Lynch is fighting US authorities who want to try him for fraud charges
Morvillo said: ‘Those charges would remain pending… in the event that he was apprehended.’
His comments came during the second day of a hearing at Westminster magistrates’ court.
The entrepreneur is accused of cooking the books at his software company, Autonomy, before it was sold to Hewlett Packard for £7billion in 2011.
He denies the allegations and is urging a judge to block the extradition on the grounds that the allegations are best dealt with here.
While appearing as a witness, Morvillo also predicted that if Lynch was extradited he would probably not face trial until mid-2023.
He can secure bail for a hefty price tag of £7million.
The hearing continues.