Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor can be called to give evidence in fraud trial, judge rules

A High Court judge has ruled that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, the former Duke of York, can be called to give evidence in a civil fraud trial in London. A civil case is one brought by a private person seeking money or another remedy, rather than a prosecution by the state.

The claim is brought by Nebahat Isbilen, a Turkish national, against fellow Turkish national Selman Turk. Ms Isbilen alleges that Mr Turk, her former adviser, misled her over a £750,000 payment made to the then-Duke of York in 2019. Hello Magazine reports that the payment was later paid back. Mr Turk denies dishonesty.

Mr Turk's side asked the court for permission to call Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as a witness. Mr Justice Adam Johnson allowed Mr Turk to rely on a witness summary, a short written outline of what a witness is expected to say. He also gave permission to seek evidence from Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

The judge said a witness summons "will likely" be needed to compel him to attend. A witness summons is a court order requiring a person to give evidence. He also found, on the balance of probabilities (the civil standard, meaning more likely than not), that had he been asked, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor would have declined to provide a witness statement.

The judge described the proposed evidence as "limited in scope". He said it could be fitted into the trial, which is expected to last 11 weeks and to begin in November.

The Telegraph reports that the judge ruled Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor can be called to explain why he was given more than £1m by an alleged fraudster. The Financial Times has valued the civil fraud trial at £40 million.

Lawyers for Ms Isbilen told the court that tens of millions of her funds had been misappropriated, meaning taken and used improperly. The High Court was previously told there had been a "settlement" between Ms Isbilen and the then-Duke and Duchess of York. A settlement is an agreement that ends a dispute.

Selman Turk is a former Goldman Sachs banker, according to the Financial Times. Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lives on the Sandringham estate, the private country property of King Charles.

The next step is the trial itself. Whether a witness summons is issued, and what evidence is heard, will be decided in court.