Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor can be called to give evidence in High Court fraud trial, judge rules
A High Court judge has ruled that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor may be called to give evidence in a fraud case brought by an elderly Turkish woman against businessman Selman Turk, after receiving gifts worth up to £750,000.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor can be compelled to give evidence in a High Court fraud trial involving a Turkish businessman, a judge has ruled, in a decision that opens a new legal front for the former royal. The case centres on allegations brought by Nebahat Isbilen, an elderly Turkish national, against Selman Turk, a fellow Turkish businessman accused of defrauding her.
The ruling means Mountbatten-Windsor may be required to appear in court and answer questions about his business dealings, including gifts he received from Isbilen worth up to £750,000. Turk had sought permission to call Mountbatten-Windsor as a witness, arguing that his evidence is relevant to the dispute. The judge accepted that the former royal could be called, clearing the way for his possible appearance in the witness box.
The case has drawn attention because of the sums involved and the prominent figure at its periphery. Isbilen, described as elderly, is suing Turk over the handling of her affairs. The gifts to Mountbatten-Windsor, which reportedly reached as much as £750,000, form part of the wider factual matrix that the court will examine. The judge's decision does not determine the outcome of the fraud allegations; it settles the procedural question of whether Mountbatten-Windsor can be summoned to give evidence.
For Mountbatten-Windsor, the ruling represents a further entanglement in legal proceedings at a time when his public role has been curtailed. The prospect of testimony in a High Court trial carries reputational as well as legal implications, and the case is likely to attract scrutiny of the financial relationships between the parties involved. The judge's order allows Turk's legal team to call him, though it remains to be seen whether he will ultimately be required to appear or whether the parties will reach a settlement before trial.
The decision was handed down in London's High Court, where the civil claim is being heard. The judge's ruling on the witness question is a procedural step, but it ensures that Mountbatten-Windsor's account of the gifts and his dealings with Turk and Isbilen can be tested under oath if the trial proceeds. The case continues, with further hearings expected to set the timetable for evidence and any final resolution.
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