MAJORCA´S LIB DEM DONOR REMANDED IN CUSTODY

By Humphrey Carter THE Majorca-based Scottish tax exile who bank-rolled the Liberal Democrats at the last election with a record £2.5 million donation was yesterday remanded in custody at Bow Street Magistrates Court in London. Michael Brown, one of Scotland's wealthiest people with an estimated fortune of £10 million, was arrested by members of the National Police at his Esporles villa on his 40th birthday last month after a European arrest warrant was issued in the UK. He was extradited from Madrid on an easyJet flight to Gatwick on Tuesday to face 53 charges of fraud brought against him by one of the world's leading banks which accuses him of forging documents involving purported trading of one million dollars on financial markets. The bank has also launched civil action temporarily freezing his assets which include a six-passenger private jet worth an estimated $4 million. That was yesterday impounded at Biggin Hill airfield. The charges against Brown also include perjury and perverting the course of justice while City of London Police want to question him over allegations that he lied to a get a new British passport. Brown, who set up a new home in Majorca with his wife Sharon, who was in court with him yesterday, in 1999 could face life imprisonment if found guilty as charged. However, Brown made it clear from the moment of his arrest that he wanted to get back to Britain “to face the music” as quickly as possible as he strongly denies fraud. A spokesperson for Brown said yesterday that he will “vigorously” defend himself. In a statement issued by the City of London economic crime department, from which two detectives accompanied Brown back to London, said “the man arrested is currently under investigation by the City of London's money-laundering investigation unit in connection with large-scale suspected fraud.” It would appear that Brown may be part of a much larger international scam. Police confirmed yesterday that further arrestr have been made in the UK in connection with the “on-going” investigation. The investigation into alleged money laundering has apparently been widened by detectives to include Brown's 5th Aventue Partners Ltd, the company he owned, made the Lib Dem donation through and had an office here in Palma. Brown, who spoke only to give his name and date of birth in court yesterday, will appear at Southwark Crown Court on August 2.