Fugitive defends Clinton pardon

Clinton: Unprecedented spree of pardons

Fugitive financier Marc Rich has broken his silence with a defiant defence of the controversial pardon granted him by former US President Bill Clinton.

Federal prosecutors have launched a criminal inquiry into whether the pardon was illegally sought with contributions to Mr Clinton's Democratic party and his presidential library.

But Mr Rich said the pardon was a "humanitarian act" that recognised the injustice of the indictments brought against him in the United States.

Marc Rich: Pardon followed ex-wife's Democratic Party donations

Mr Clinton pardoned Mr Rich on the last day of his presidency - prompting accusations that the pardon was linked to donations made to the Democratic Party by Mr Rich's ex-wife Diane.

Mr Rich fled to Switzerland in 1983 after being charged in the US with fraud, tax evasion and sanctions busting.

His first comments since the scandal broke came in a statement faxed to news agencies from a Tel Aviv-based public relations firm.

'Injustice'

The indictment against me in the United States was wrong

Marc Rich

"The indictment against me in the United States was wrong and was meant to hurt me personally," the statement quoted Rich as saying.

"The pardon granted by President Clinton remedied this injustice 18 years later," the statement continued.

"I do not consider the pardon granted by President Clinton as an eradication of past deeds - but as closing a cycle of justice and as a humanitarian act," the statement quoted Rich as saying.

The statement said Mr Rich "was forced to live outside the United States" believing he had little chance of a fair trial "in the wake of the negative and antagonistic public opinion carefully created and orchestrated by the prosecution at the time".

The statement dismissed allegations that his charitable activities in Israel - cited by Mr Clinton among the reasons for pardoning Rich - were "calculating acts" intended to secure him a pardon.

'No regrets'

"I do not regret any of my actions. I am proud and happy to be able to bring a little joy and assistance to sick children, women and men less fortunate than myself," the statement read.

The Belgian-born billionaire grew up in the US, but renounced US citizenship.

He now holds Spanish and Israeli citizenship while continuing to reside in Switzerland.

He was charged with evading $48m in tax - the biggest case of its kind in US history.

He was also indicted on fraud charges, and for conducting oil deals in breach of a trade embargo with Iran.