He strikes me as being the archetypal 80's cliche - running a company that diversified into a lot of areas, using that quasi-militaristic terminology that seemed to fit business at the time, I imagine when things were good, life was never better for him, making disgusting amounts of money, living well and having the envy and respect of his peers.
Now business was the business of the time, in that the excesses of the business world were, for the most part, unregulated and even celebrated - 'yuppies', city traders, champagne and cocaine, the idea that wealth somehow made you a better person. That the Conservatives were in power at the time cannot be ignored, as it was their ideology and policy that enabled such excesses to flourish, unencumbered by the notions of societal responsibility and oversight. He was embroiled in a cash for questions scandal that brought down Michael Mates and was a major contributor to the Conservative Party, which makes sense for someone of his standing and position.
That he then went on to mismanage the company's assets, and allegedly moving millions into properties in Northern Cyprus whereupon he fled to the area, protected by the lack of an extradition treaty and from there he ran a media company that controlled newspapers, tv and radio that he used to help support a change in party, faced a massive tax bill which he will probably avoid having to pay and has been given the contract for an airport without having to go through the normal tender procedures.
He claims that he is back in the country because he was terribly homesick, that he would like treatment for his ill health, and that he feels now that he will receive a fair trial. It wouldn't be facetious to point out that we have a government who would be, at worst, sympathetic to Mr Nadir, a relic of a time when the world was in their own image. That he dictated his own terms speaks to a greater truth:
If you have money and influence, you get to subvert the rule of law - if you break the laws of a country and you do not want to face the punishment, you fly to somewhere that will protect you, and when you think that the climate is right, you dictate the terms under which you will return. I will be surprised if he is found guilty, not because of any notions as to the guilt or innocence of the man, but because he is, for this government, the right sort of man. His links to Turkey will help in securing trade and improve their standing in the EU and I bet soon enough Nadir will give congratulatory interviews and the Conservative Party will get a fat cheque in their party funds. Asil Nadir will get away with what he has done because he is rich, and because we have political leaders who are extremely comfortable with the notions of wealth and power.
I know that New Labour made the decision to become similarly comfortable with the wealthy and yes, it got them into power and they did, on the balance of it, use it for good overall, but I still feel that they were betting against the house, and if you are at all familiar with gambling in its many forms, then you know that the longer you play, the certainty arises that the house will win back all the money that you spent, and a lot more.
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