Convicted businessman Asil Nadir has been deported to Turkey after two years of negotiations between the UK and Turkish governments.
Following the collapse of his company, Polly Peck International, Nadir was charged with fraud and stealing millions of pounds from the company.
He was placed under house arrest in the UK in 1993 but fled to France after three years, eventually returning to North Cyprus.
In 2010, in poor health, Nadir unexpectedly returned to the UK, claiming that he wanted to clear his name.
After a two year long court case at the Old Bailey, he was found guilty of fraud and theft and was sentenced to ten years imprisonment. Nadir was also ordered to pay five million pounds in compensation and to repay two million in legal aid fees.
A Minstry of Justice spokesman said: “It is right that foreign criminals are properly punished but not at the expense of British taxpayers.
“This government is committed to removing foreign criminals to their own countries. Since Asil Nadir has now repaid the £2m he owed the Legal Aid Agency, plus £5m in compensation he paid earlier, arrangements were made with the Turkish government for his removal as part of our Prisoner Transfer Agreement.”
Nadir landed at Istanbul Ataturk Airport last night and was transferred to Silivri Prison.
Kibris Postasi, BBC News
