Andrew can be called to give evidence in High Court fraud trial
A High Court judge has ruled that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor can be called to give evidence in a fraud trial brought by a wealthy Turkish woman against her former adviser.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor can be called to give evidence in a High Court fraud trial, a judge has ruled, the BBC reports.
In a judgment handed down on Friday, Justice Adam Johnson agreed to a request from defendant Selman Turk to call the former Duke of York as a witness, allowing Turk to rely on a witness summary.
The trial centres on fraud allegations brought by Nebahat Isbilen, a Turkish national from a wealthy family who was 77 years old in 2022, against Turk, her former adviser. Isbilen alleges that Turk misled her over a payment, and her lawyers have previously told the court that tens of millions of pounds of her funds were misappropriated. Turk denies dishonesty.
Johnson said his decision meant Turk could call evidence from the former duke, while stressing "the seriousness of the allegations". The judge noted that it "has long been Mr Turk's case" that a £750,000 payment at the centre of the case was made.
Mountbatten-Windsor repaid the money involved, and the BBC reports there is no suggestion of wrongdoing by the former duke.
The ruling was made ahead of the trial after Turk applied for permission to call Mountbatten-Windsor to give evidence. The judge's decision opens the way for the former royal to be questioned in court about the payment.
The BBC's report, by Ella Kipling, says the case will now proceed with the possibility of evidence from Mountbatten-Windsor being heard.
Source: BBC News — Top Stories — TrendWire reports stories in its own words; facts should be confirmed against the original source.