Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor summonsed to give evidence in fraud trial
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has been served with a witness summons to give evidence in a High Court fraud trial on or around 15 December, the BBC understands — thought to be the first such summons to a royal since the 19th century. He is not accused of wrongdoing, but is said to have received some of the disputed payments, including £750,000.
Nebahat Isbilen, an elderly Turkish woman, alleges that her former adviser Selman Turk misled her into paying the £750,000, believing it was for help with a passport; Mr Turk says it was a gift to create goodwill, and strongly denies dishonesty. The court will also examine about £768,000 paid in January 2020, which Mr Turk says was a loan towards a Swiss chalet. The first transfer came the day after the then duke recorded his 2019 Newsnight interview, and was later repaid. His appearance will be his first public questioning since that interview.