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The extradition hearing for a New Zealand man accused of involvement in a multimillion-dollar counterfeit fraud in Britain has been delayed again after two of his co-accused were apparently freed.
Bryan Walter Archer, 59, appeared in the Tauranga District Court yesterday for the hearing, but no decision was made about whether he would be extradited after a lawyer said there had been "significant developments" in the case.
The lawyer, Bill Nabney, acting as an agent for Archer's lawyer in Auckland, said it appeared that at least two of Archer's co-accused had been discharged without conviction, and it was possible all would be discharged.
Although not said in court, it is understood the basis for his comments was a newspaper article found on the internet.
The article, from Times Series Newspapers, said two of five accused had been cleared by London's Southwark Crown Court last Thursday. Mr Nabney asked for Archer's extradition hearing to be adjourned, telling the judge that the Crown prosecutor was attempting to seek official confirmation of the information.
The hearing has been delayed several times since Archer's arrest on November 6, despite the Extradition Act requiring such matters be dealt with swiftly.
Archer, who has fraud convictions, is accused of conspiring with an Australian and several Chinese nationals to defraud the Bank of England by trying to cash fake banknotes in denominations as high as £500,000 ($1.3 million).
The group allegedly told the bank the notes were bills issued to wealthy Chinese families in exchange for gold during in World War II.
Figures on the extent of the alleged conspiracy range from $480 million to as high as $75 billion, and British police want Archer extradited to stand trial.
He plans to fight the extradition order and has twice applied for bail, but was again denied in an appeal to the High Court at Rotorua last week.
Justice Graham Lang said his work and home details were "so shadowy" the court could not have confidence he would stay where instructed.
Judge Thomas Ingram further remanded Archer in custody yesterday, ordering him to reappear on Friday to allow Crown prosecutor Greg Hollister-Jones time to establish the accuracy of the new information.
Archer, dressed in a cardigan, smiled at supporters in the back of the courtroom and held up a hand to his ear to hear as the judge spoke.
The Times Series Newspapers article, published on Friday, said two men, including Australian Ross Cowie, were cleared after a judge heard legal submissions from defence and prosecution barristers.
The judge reportedly told the jury not to speculate on why the pair walked free.
The article said the trial of three remaining defendants would begin next week.
Earlier reports about the case said there were six defendants - Cowie and five Chinese nationals - and that their trial had begun last month.
New Zealand police were unaware of the reported developments in the case.
"We are making inquiries with the UK authorities but irrespective of what happens over there, until we hear otherwise, the extradition order remains," Detective Sergeant Darryl Brazier said.
