Last-minute documents from Switzerland have forced the trial of Achilleas Kallakis and Alexander Williams to be adjourned to 9 January.
Information requested by the Serious Fraud Office from the Swiss authorities in March 2009 into the duo’s alleged fraud against Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Scotland has finally sifted through to Southwark Crown Court, forcing the trial to be stopped immediately.
A spokeswoman for the SFO said: “Due to material being made available at a late stage during the proceedings, the trial has been adjourned to allow for the consideration of this material.”
In addition to the two-week delay to analyse the thousands of pages of documents, the Christmas commitments of one of the jurors will also hold up the court.
The judge also believed Kallakis should give evidence in one go, rather than before and after Christmas.
Both men deny all charges.
joanna.bourke@estatesgazette.com
