Andrew ‘summoned to give evidence’ in High Court case over £750k gift at centre of fraud claim

Next ANDREW Mountbatten-Windsor has been asked to give evidence in a High Court fraud case against a Turkish businessman. Nebahat Isbilen, an elderly Turkish millionairess, alleges that her former adviser Selman Turk misled her regarding a £750,000 payment to the former royal back in 2019. The former royal is not accused of any wrongdoing Source: Getty Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been called to give evidence in a High Court fraud case Source: AP Advertisement This week, Andrew was summoned to appear in court in mid December as a witness either in person or by video, the BBC reported.

He is not accused of any wrongdoing but he is expected to face a number of questions about his finances. Sign up for the Royals newsletter Thank you! Email address Please provide a valid email. Your info will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy You'll now receive top stories, breaking news, and more, straight to your email. The BBC’s royal correspondent Sean Coughlan said the evidence Andrew gives “could cast an interesting light on his finances”.

He added that the order represents the first time a royal has been summoned as a witness since the 19th century. The Turkish millionairess Mrs Isbilen claims she was tricked into handing over some of her fortune to the then Prince and his family by her adviser. Andrew became embroiled in the dispute when Mr Turk – whom he met at a Dragons Den-style initiative called Pitch@Palace – made payments to him of £350,000. He also paid £225,000 to the former Duchess of York, £25,000 to Princess Eugenie and contributed a £750,000 “gift” for Princess Beatrice ‘s wedding.

The Yorks subsequently came to an agreement with Mrs Isbilen to repay her an undisclosed amount of money in 2023. Advertisement Most read in Royals SUMMIT SPEECH King blasts 'slavery as shameful chapter' that 'fills my heart with horror' ROYAL STRAIN King's priorities changing 'by the hour' amid Thomas Markle & Andrew scandals PAY ROW Antigua PM demands UK pay slave trade compensation in outburst during King's tour ARTHUR EDWARDS Witty Diana threw me off the scent about her marriage… until one fateful pic It follows a judgement on October 23 , in which Mr Justice Adam Johnson agreed to allow Mr Turk to rely on a witness summary.

He said: “Given the seriousness of the allegations, both on their own terms and in light of their wider impact, fairness requires that Mr Turk should be afforded an opportunity of putting forward his own case, using the evidence he considers relevant and material.” He added that although Mr Turk had been late to seek to rely on evidence from the former duke, the findings will be “limited in scope” and can be accommodated in the 11-week trial.

Mr Johnson added at the time that a witness summons “will likely” be needed to compel Andrew to give evidence. He said: “I am content to find on the balance of probabilities that, had he been asked, Mr Mountbatten-Windsor would have declined to provide a witness statement. Advertisement “It is highly unlikely that a person in the position of Mr Mountbatten-Windsor would wish voluntarily to provide a witness statement and give evidence at a trial in public proceedings involving payments made by the wife of a person said to be a political prisoner in Turkey, in connection with a dispute about the reason the payments were made.”

Lawyers for Mrs Isbilen have previously claimed in court that tens of millions of her funds had been misappropriated, with Mr Turk accused of failing to explain where the money had gone. The High Court was also informed by Mrs Isbilen’s lawyers that “money was used for purposes unconnected” with her, including payments to the Yorks.