B.C. tycoon who owned $25 million Island home arrested by Scotland Yard

The estate was priced at $25 million in 2006 - Photo from www.luxist.com

Vancouver, BC. – Wolfgang Oskar Karl Frank Hertel, a former B.C. tycoon whose waterfront estate on Vancouver Island was the most expensive ever put up for sale in Canada, has been arrested in Britain after being on the run from  allegations he evaded paying $18 million in taxes.

RCMP and INTERPOL had been tracking Hertel since he fled to Venezuela and then on to Germany to evade trial on a charge of failing to pay $18 million in taxes.

He was the founder of the International Electronics Corporation and his Uplands waterfront home reflected his interest in high-tech. The home had smart lighting, 19 television sets and state-of-the-art security. It was up for sale in 2006 at $25 million Canadian.

“Wolfgang Oskar Karl Frank Hertel, known as Frank Hertel, was accused of making false income tax statements, and evading tax payments, in February of 1986, estimated to total $18,000,000.00 at that time. In 1987, Frank Hertel was ordered to stand trial on these Income Tax Act charges, in Victoria,” RCMP said.

“On January 13th, 1994, an arrest warrant was issued for Frank Hertel, by the Provincial Court in Victoria. The RCMP assumed responsibility for enforcing this warrant, and began investigating the whereabouts of Hertel. Since then, RCMP have tracked Hertel from Venezuala, to Europe, where he traveled and resided primarily in Germany,” RCMP said.

Because of the nature of the charge, RCMP were unable to grab him from Germany. But last week they received information Hertel was going to Britain.

“This past weekend, members of the Victoria based arm of the RCMP’s Federal Commercial Crime Unit received reliable information on Frank Hertel’s immediate travel plans from Germany to London, England,” an RCMP spokesman said.

“Utilizing the RCMP’s Ottawa Interpol Office, the London Interpol Office was informed of Hertel’s impending arrival at London’s Heathrow Airport.”

“On May 9th, at 9:00 am London Time, Officers with the New Scotland Yard Extradition Unit boarded an arriving flight from Germany, where Frank Hertel was identified, and taken into custody,” said the RCMP statement.

Canada shares a ‘Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty’ with Great Britain, allowing for their assistance in this matter.

“Throughout our pursuit of Frank Hertel, we have utilized the RCMP’s Foreign Liaison Officers in both Germany and Great Britain, as well as our partners within Interpol. This stands as a strong example of our International law enforcement abilities, and a testament to our commitment and patience”, said Sgt. Andrew Cowan, the head of Victoria’s Federal Commercial Crime Team.

Frank Hertel remains in the custody of British Authorities. He has been granted bail, if three conditions can be met. These include:

1. Deposit a security of £500,000.00 (Sterling)

2. Surrender passport and ID card to police

3. Provide an address (may be a hotel) and live and sleep at that address.

Hertel has met the last two conditions but not come up with the security.

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