Madeleine 'fraudster' arrested in Oxford
Man hired by parents of Madeleine McCann in the search for their daughter arrested
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Wednesday, 25, Nov 2009 09:36
By Richard James.
A man hired by the parents of Madeleine McCann in the search for their daughter and wanted by US authorities over an alleged fraud has been arrested.
Kevin Halligen was taken into custody yesterday afternoon following discrepancies over his bill at the Old Bank hotel in Oxford.
The 48-year-old is wanted by the US department of justice over allegations he tried to defraud a London law firm of more than $2 million (£1.2 million).
His firm, Oakley International, was used by Kate and Gerry McCann for around six months last year in the ongoing search for Madeleine.
The company was paid around £300,000 to help locate the schoolgirl who went missing during a family holiday in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007.
Earlier this month US officials issued an indictment for Mr Halligen claiming he had conned the London law firm out of $2.1 million.
Commenting on his arrest a spokesman for the McCann family said: "Our association with Halligen and Oakley International ended well over a year ago.
"Given that an arrest has been made it would be inappropriate for us to comment."