Chris Carey was arrested on Thursday night (08/01/99)in New Zealand. Carey had escaped from Ford open prison in the UK in August 1998. He had been living in St. Johns, Auckland and used an alias of Chris Broady.

According to a report in the New Zealand Herald, BSkyB or News Datacom had hired a New Zealand corporate security and investigation firm, The Couper Group, to track Carey after a tip that he had fled to the Southern Hemisphere. There was some speculation at the time of the escape that Carey would flee to the Pacific region or to Spain. A report in the alt.satellite.tv.crypt newsgroup initially stated that the tip-off had come from Ireland though that claim was later retracted. However the Irish industry is wary of News Datacom and their informers. In the paranoia that follows such events, sources were wondering if the retraction was an attempt to protect the informers and speculation was rife.

According to Carey's New Zealand lawyer, Roger Chambers, Carey had not yet decided whether to fight the extradition proceedings against him. If extradited to the UK, he will have to serve the remaining period of his four year sentence. He had allegedly entered New Zealand five days after the escape on the passport of a deceased British citizen.

When Carey appeared before Auckland District Court on 08/01/99, the judge, Judge Stan Thorburn, remanded him in custody without plea until next week. He is charged with travelling on a false passport. Apparently British police have finalised an application for extradition.

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