The Constitutional Tribunal takes up the Skase case

Not a single court document relating to the Christopher Skase case remains with the Palma court after the Constitutional Tribunal in Madrid last week asked for all documents to be submitted as the court takes up Skase's latest and final bid to remain in Andratx where he has lived with his family for the past 11 years. The former Australian businessman, who is wanted in Australia in connection with over 30 charges of fraud in the wake of the collapse of his Qintex leisure and media empire at the end of the 80*s, has successfully fought off attempts by the Australians to have him stand trial in Australia for the past six years, when Skase defeated an extradition attempt in the High Court. He was however caught trying to renew his Spanish resident's permit with an illegal document, the Australian passport which had been cancelled, and since then he has been facing expulsion from Spain. Earlier this year a pending expulsion order was given the green light by the Palma High Court and now Skase's fate in Spain remains in the hands of the Constitutional Tribunal in Madrid. Or, if that fails, the Court of Human Rights in Brussels. But, as the Spanish have made clear, to appeal to Brussels, Skase does not have to be in Spain. Expelling Skase from Spain however has been heavily criticised by the team of doctors who have been treating him for the past year for chronic emphysema and, more recently, stomach cancer which was diagnosed just before Christmas. Since the New Year Skase has undergone at least three operations and last month his Palma-based doctor said that he is seriously concerned about his patient's health. Talk of Skase being forced to travel is just ludicrous, he said. At the same time, the Australians appear to have recognised the critical condition of Skase's health and have turned their attentions on Skase's son-in-law who also lives in Majorca with his family. Six weeks ago the Constitutional Tribunal, which normally only hears five per cent of appeals lodged with it, said that a decision would be made within a period of two months. But the request for all judicial documentation suggests that the tribunal has taken up the Skase appeal and the decision delayed.