By Rebecca Camber UPDATED: 11:41 EST, 24 January 2012 On trial: Asil Nadir arrives at the Old Bailey, London, with his wife, Nur It has been nearly 19 years since he famously fled British justice. But yesterday Asil Nadir finally went on trial for allegedly stealing £150million to fund his luxury lifestyle. The 70-year-old is accused of plundering his Polly Peck business empire to pay for lavish properties, cars and gifts for himself and his family, causing the firm to collapse nearly 22 years ago. The tycoon, who had at his disposal five company cars including Bentleys and a Ferrari Testarossa, as well as a company aeroplane, then fled as fraud investigators closed in. On the eve of his trial in May 1993 he jetted off to his native Northern Cyprus where he set up home.
@highlight
Nadir denies 13 charges against him at start of Old Bailey trial
@highlight
Court hears most of the funds ended up in offshore companies based in Switzerland, the Bahamas and elsewhere
@highlight
Companies owned by Nadir's mother received £7.5m of the fraudulent money
was not until August 2010 that Nadir flew back to @placeholder and was