Free Gary McKinnon

The Scotsman reports on the bail conditions which the NatWest 3 bankers, David Bermingham, Giles Darby and Gary Mulgrew which the court in Houston Texas has imposed, even after all the "special relationship" pressure from the media sensitive Labour Government.

They had sought an unprecedented release back to Britain, arguing that they needed to return to keep their jobs, support their families and prepare their defence.

But Judge Smith said although he sympathised with some of their concerns he could not allow them outside the jurisdiction of US courts because it would risk another lengthy extradition proceeding. They will be "restricted to the US".

Mr Bermingham and Mr Darby have to deposit $250,000 (£135,000) each in cash or credit guarantees with the authorities by the end of the month and a further $250,000 by October. Mr Mulgrew, who is less financially well off, must come up with a total of $200,000 (£108,300) over the same period.

The judge also told the men not to associate outside their lawyers' presence, a standard clause in US cases.

This is not good news for Gary McKinnon or Babar Ahmad, or any or the other similar extradition cases in the pipeline to the USA, under the unfair UK-USA Extradition Treaty, and the British sovereignty destroying Extradition Act 2003.

They certainly do not have this sort of money available to them, so they would be inacerated in prison awaiting trial, if and when they fall into the power of the US authorities.

UPDATE: more details on the bail conditions from Douglas McNabb's International Extradition blog:

The three men have had their travel restricted to Harris County, Texas, and the surrounding areas. They must also surrender their UK passports and submit to electronic monitoring. Bond has been set at $1,000,000 for each man, with two of them posting $100,000 cash and the third posting $20,000 cash. By July 31, the two men who posted $100,000 must present an additional $150,000 each, and the third must present an additional $80,000. By October 31, the first two men must present an additional $250,000, and the third man must present an additional $100,000. Finally, the three are not allowed to live together in order to share and reduce expenses, and they have 30 days to secure their residences.