Leeson, meanwhile, tried to flee to Britain but was detained in Frankfurt and ultimately extradited to Singapore, where he was sentenced in December 1995 to six and a half years in prison for his fraudulent activities. He was released in July last year, having been diagnosed as suffering from cancer. Leeson has since made public appearances and undertaken other fee-earning work under an arrangement with Ernst and his own solicitors. Coopers, as auditor of the collapsed bank, became subject to an inquiry by the accountancy profession's joint disciplinary scheme. In October 1998, the JDS, headed by Christopher Dickson, former senior assistant director of the Serious Fraud Office, completed its investigation and laid two complaints before the tribunal.
Penalties levied by the panel can include unlimited fines and expulsion from the profession.
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