Pilot charged over Asil Nadir's escape

Pilot Peter Dimond, arrested by police investigating the escape from Britain of tycoon Asil Nadir, was yesterday charged with perverting the course of justice. Mr Dimond, 56, a self-employed businessman formerly of Petersfield, Hampshire, is due to appear before Bow Street magistrates in London today.

Scotland Yard said yesterday: "Mr Dimond was this afternoon charged with one count of perverting the course of justice in relation to the role he played in the removal of Asil Nadir from this country on May 4 1993. He is currently in custody."

The former Polly Peck chairman, who was facing pounds 30m theft and false accounting charges, was on pounds 2m bail when he fled to northern Cyprus. In 1994, Polly Peck's creditors were told they were likely to get only a fraction of the pounds 1.3bn they were owed, somewhere between pounds 15-pounds 55m.

Mr Dimond, who was thought to have been living in northern Cyprus for the past four-and-a-half years, was detained last Friday at Fishguard in Pembrokeshire, following a tip off to the authorities.