Lawyers for the Cork-born financier, Mr Finbarr Ross (52) were granted an adjournment to April 6th when his extradition case came before the court in Muskogee, Oklahoma, yesterday. Mr Ross appeared in court dressed in white Muskogee City Jail overalls and with his hands and feet shackled. His lawyers asked for the adjournment so they could have more time to prepare their case.
The RUC are seeking the extradition of Mr Ross to Belfast to face 41 fraudrelated charges.
Mr Ross was the beneficial owner of a Gibraltar-based investment company, International Investment Ltd, which collapsed in 1984 leaving debts of more than £5 million sterling.
Some 1,200 investors, most of whom are from Northern Ireland, lost their savings.
About 15 supporters who turned up for the case were shocked by the appearance of Mr Ross.
"He looks like he has not had a good night's sleep in weeks," said Ms Melia Helson, who knows Mr Ross from their involvement with the Light of Christ Community Church, a religious commune close to Talequah, Oklahoma. Mr Ross, who was chief executive of the religious group for three years, was arrested there earlier this month.
