Ex-tycoon Asil Nadir arrested

Former Polly Peck tycoon Asil Nadir was arrested in London today for an alleged breach of his court bail conditions, Scotland Yard sources said.

The businessman, who is on £250,000 bail ahead of a trial for multimillion-pound theft charges, was arrested at 2.30pm.

It is not yet known what the alleged breach is for - though his bail conditions include a curfew of midnight to 6am and reporting weekly to a local police station. A police spokesman said: "A 69-year-old man was arrested in central London today for a breach of his bail conditions."

Nadir was originally charged with 66 offences of theft alleging a £34 million fraud following the collapse of his Polly Peck empire.

He fled in 1993 to northern Cyprus before the counts - put into fewer condensed charges - could be put to him at trial.

But on July 30 this year Mr Justice Bean was told he wanted to return to fight the case.

Tonight, a Serious Fraud Office spokesman said: "The SFO has been informed that a 69-year-old man has been arrested for a breach of his bail conditions.

"A custody officer is assessing the severity of the breach of bail."

It is believed Nadir was arrested for breaching his curfew - but it is not known by how much or where he was.

An electronic tag he wears, so the authorities can monitor him, will have sent a signal alerting them to the alleged breach.

Upon arriving back in Britain in August with his wife Nur, 26, he declared he had a "little injustice to sort out" and that he was confident he would clear his name.