Kevin Halligen remanded over fraud case

Kevin Halligen

Hearing

• City of Westminster Magistrates' Court in London 
• Due to apply for bail 
• Heard before District Judge Caroline Tubbs 
• Halligen did not attend was not represented by a lawyer 
• remanded Halligen in custody 
• US launched extradition proceedings over an alleged £1.3 million fraud 
• Melanie Cumberland acting for the US Government said Halligen was wanted in connection with a "wire fraud and money laundering" 
• Case adjourned until January 27 
• US Department of Justice issued indictment early November 2009 (see earlier articles)

2nd December 2009

Madeleine McCann hunter Kevin Halligen remanded over fraud case

Metro

The man whose firm helped look for Madeleine was remanded in custody after the US launched extradition proceedings over an alleged £1.3 million fraud.

Kevin Halligen's firm helped in the search for Madeleine McCann Kevin Halligen's firm helped in the search for Madeleine McCann

Kevin Halligen, 48, was due to apply for bail at a hearing at City of Westminster Magistrates' Court, in London, but did not attend and was not represented by a lawyer.

District Judge Caroline Tubbs remanded Halligen in custody and adjourned the case until January 27.

"Mr Halligen is remanded in custody in his absence," she said.

Melanie Cumberland, acting for the US Government, said Halligen was wanted in connection with a "wire fraud and money laundering".

The US Department of Justice issued an indictment for Halligen, from Surrey, last month, alleging he tried to defraud a London law firm of 2.1 million US dollars (£1.3 million).

It claimed he took the money as part of a deal to secure the release of Dutch business executives arrested in the Ivory Coast but instead spent it on a mansion, a gift to his girlfriend, debit card transaction and cash machine withdrawals.

The Irish national was arrested at a hotel in Oxford on November 24 where he had been staying for several months under an assumed name.

Halligen's firm, Oakley International, was used by Madeleine's parents, Kate and Gerry, for around six months last year to look for their missing daughter.

The Washington-based firm was paid about £300,000 by backers of Mr and Mrs McCann to help in the search for Madeleine, who went missing from an Algarve resort in May 2007 at the age of three.