Businessman Asil Nadir has passed away

Turkish Cypriot businessman Asil Nadir, who had been receiving treatment for some time and was recently moved to intensive care, has passed away.

The news of the 83-year-old businessman's death was announced by his wife, Nur Nadir.

Hospital officials stated that Asil Nadir passed away yesterday evening (February 9) and noted that a final death report is being prepared.

Last week, the hospital had issued a call for blood donations for Nadir, whose condition had become critical.

WHO IS ASIL NADIR?

Born on May 1, 1941, in Lefke, TRNC, businessman Asil Nadir moved to England with his family in his 20s and entered the garment industry there.

Nadir, who at one point purchased shares of the British company Polly Peck, operated in the food, electronics, and service sectors through this company.

Asil Nadir, who had investments in the electronics and media sectors in Turkey, also purchased the newspapers Güneş and Günaydın.

Nadir, who also founded the Cyprus newspaper (Kıbrıs Gazetesi)—which was once the country's highest-circulation newspaper and provided a training ground for many journalists—was sued in England on charges of "embezzlement" and was sentenced to prison.

After being released on 3.5 million pounds bail in 1993, Nadir fled to the TRNC on his private jet. In 2010, he voluntarily returned to England to face trial in order to clear his name of the charges against him.

Sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Old Bailey Criminal Court in England in 2011, Nadir was sent to Turkey to serve the remainder of his sentence after spending 4 years in prison.

Asil Nadir returned to the TRNC following his release by Turkey in 2016.

News Source: AA