Acquitted: Autonomy founder Mike Lynch
Mike Lynch plans to convince ministers to reform Britain’s extradition treaty with the US after being cleared of fraud.
The founder of software company Autonomy was this week acquitted of charges relating to the £9 billion sale of his company to US giant Hewlett Packard in 2011.
Tory former shadow home secretary David Davis wants to work with Lynch to call for changes to the system.
The politician has previously criticized what he said was a one-sided treaty with the US agreed by Tony Blair’s Labor government in 2003.
Under the rules, it is much easier for the US to extradite British citizens than for Britain to extradite Americans.
Critics of the extradition treaty, signed in the wake of the September 11 attacks with the apparent aim of trapping terrorists and other serious criminals, say it has disproportionately affected British white-collar suspects.
Davis, who spoke to Lynch on Thursday evening after his acquittal, told The Telegraph: “He said, ‘David, we have work to do to get this extradition treaty right.’ It highlights a hugely dysfunctional arrangement we have with this extradition treaty.”
A jury in San Francisco acquitted Lynch, 58, of all 15 charges: one count of conspiracy and 14 counts of bank fraud, all of which were related to specific transactions or communications.
He faced a prison sentence of up to 25 years. Lynch said he was “delighted” with the verdict.