Tax case businessman, 73, wins battle against extradition to Canada

A 73-YEAR-OLD businessman has won a High Court battle against extradition to Canada on tax-evasion charges dating back two decades.

Wolfgang Frank Hertel, a scientist and engineer with dual German/Canadian nationality, was ordered to be set free by two senior judges.

Lord Justice Laws, sitting with Mr Justice Coulson, ruled that the allegations made against Hertel by the Canadian government did not amount to an extradition offence.

Yesterday's ruling is the latest development in a saga that began in the 1980s and stretches from Victoria in Canada to South America to Europe, with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and Interpol both pursuing Hertel.

Hertel was arrested in London on 9 May last year and had been detained since then at Wandsworth prison.

German-born Hertel had patented inventions, including those for CO2-free electric energy generation and enhanced oil recovery with geothermal resources.

He was accused of Canadian tax offences as president of a firm called International Electronics Corporation.