British bankers ask Hague to help fight Bahrain travel ban
THREE BRITISH bankers who are banned from leaving Bahrain as part of a financial investigation have called on foreign secretary William Hague to intervene in their case.
The three men, along with several others from Ireland and Canada, have been prevented from leaving the Arab state since 2009 while authorities look into the financial activities of Awal Bank, their previous employer.
Ex-chief executive Alistair Macleod, ex-chief operating officer Anthony James and former head of operations Cliff Giddings have not been charged with any offence, but officials have rejected nine separate attempts to have the travel ban overturned.
The restrictions have had “an extremely serious effect on [the men] personally”, according to the letter sent to Hague by barristers at Matrix Chambers and seen by City A.M.
The trio wrote to previous foreign secretary David Miliband but were told he could not intervene with private legal matters.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: “We are aware of the case and are providing consular assistance to three British nationals in Bahrain.” He could not confirm yesterday whether Hague had seen the letter.