UK twist in Marc Rich saga

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Lawyers for billionaire commodity trader Marc Rich are "cooperating fully" with British customs following the seizure of a large sum of cash at Gatwick airport, a spokesman for his energy trading company said on Tuesday.

"They are co-operating on the basis that customs have impounded a large sum of cash and they're working to have it released," spokesman Chris Lang told Reuters.

He refused to make any further comment.

Reports in British newspapers say $1.9 million was seized from a courier acting on Rich's behalf.

"No one under the name of Marc Rich has been charged," a Customs official told Reuters. "It is not our policy to confirm or deny a case like this."

Under the 1994 Drug Trafficking Act, UK customs officials are entitled to impound cash with a value of more than $10,000 until the money is proved to have been legitimately acquired.

During his final hours in office, U.S. President Bill Clinton controversially awarded Rich a pardon, allowing the tycoon to return to the United States after fleeing to Switzerland 17 years previously on a string of fraud and racketeering charges.

Rich is being sued by New York authorities for income tax evasion amounting to $137 million.

A congressional panel and federal grand jury is investigating possible influence peddling or links between campaign donations and the pardon of Rich and others.

In 1984 two companies owned by Marc Rich pleaded guilty to 38 U.S. federal criminal counts in a scheme involving the illegal trading of crude oil.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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