Asil Nadir, Polly Peck Tycoon, Dies at 83

Asil Nadir, the controversial Turkish Cypriot businessman who once led the thriving Polly Peck conglomerate, has died at 83. Nadir transformed Polly Peck into a major multinational company in the 1980s, but the firm collapsed amid allegations of fraud and mismanagement, leading to 66 charges against him. He fled to Northern Cyprus in 1993, evading justice for 17 years before returning to the UK in 2010 to face trial, where he was ultimately convicted of theft and fraud in 2012. Nadir maintained his innocence until his death, claiming he was wrongfully convicted and had a pending appeal. His life was marked by significant wealth and political connections, including donations to the Conservative Party, before his empire fell into scandal. Nadir is survived by his wife and six children.