Mr Ernest Saunders and three co-defendants found guilty in the 1990 Guinness trial are facing a bid by the Serious Fraud Office to block their appeals against conviction.
In a unique move, the SFO is seeking permission from the High Court to challenge the decision of the Criminal Cases Review Commission to refer the convictions back to the Court of Appeal.
The SFO argues that the Commission acted outside its powers in referring the case on the basis of a change in the law which came about ten years after the original convictions.
At a preliminary hearing in London, the SFO's application for leave to seek a judicial review was adjourned to allow the Commission to be represented.
The hearing of the new appeals by Saunders, Jack Lyons, Gerald Ronson and Anthony Parnes, which were due in July, will now not take place until October although Lyons's lawyers may apply to have his case dealt with separately at an earlier date because of his rapidly deteriorating health.
PA