By Enyichukwu Enemanna
UK authorities on Friday announced the extradition of British businessman Mike Lynch, to the United States for court trial over an alleged multi-billion-dollar fraud in 2011 involving the sale of software firm Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard.
Lynch was extradited on Thursday after the High Court dismissed his appeal, Britain’s interior ministry said in a statement.
“On 21 April, the High Court refused Dr Lynch’s permission to appeal his extradition. Dr Lynch was extradited to the US on 11 May,” the ministry said.
Confirming Lynch’s arrival in the country, US officials say the extradition became possible after a prolonged legal battle.
“After lengthy extradition proceedings in the United Kingdom, Defendant Michael Richard Lynch has finally landed on our shores to stand trial, accompanied by the United States Marshals Service,” a US court filing dated Thursday read.
Lynch is accused of being involved in a massive fraud in the United States over the sale of his software company, Autonomy, to HP for $11 billion (£8.5 billion) in 2011.
The deal resulted in financial losses for the US firm.
Hewlett-Packard accuses Autonomy and the owners of rigging its accounts, deliberately inflating its value.
The US firm says this caused huge losses for the company when the true situation emerged after payment was made.
