Court Urged to Drop Clifford’s BCCI Charges

NEW YORK —  Prosecutors asked a court Monday to drop state bribery and fraud charges against former Defense Secretary Clark M. Clifford in connection with the BCCI scandal.

Papers submitted to state Supreme Court Justice John A. K. Bradley said the Manhattan district attorney’s office was requesting the dismissal because of Clifford’s poor health. Clifford, 86, underwent heart surgery this summer and suffers from numerous other health problems.

“The diminished ability of the defendant to be present and participate in his defense makes a long and complex trial manifestly impracticable,” Assistant Dist. Atty. Harold J. Wilson said in the papers.

Bradley, who is on vacation, indicated at a hearing last month that he was inclined to grant a dismissal motion filed by defense lawyer Charles Stillman. The judge is expected to rule on the request Monday.

Clifford’s law partner, Robert A. Altman, 46, was acquitted on Aug. 14 of charges of fraud and receiving bribes. The same charges are pending against Clifford.

Clifford and Altman were accused of helping the Arab-owned Bank of Credit & Commerce International illegally gain control of First American Bankshares, Washington’s largest bank holding company. Manhattan prosecutors had jurisdiction in the case because First American had branches in New York.

Bradley ordered separate trials for Altman and Clifford because of Clifford’s health. Clifford’s trial was postponed indefinitely.

International regulators closed BCCI in 1991. The bank later forfeited $550 million to settle U.S. racketeering charges.

Clifford, a Washington lawyer and adviser to every Democratic President since Harry S. Truman, was secretary of defense under Lyndon B. Johnson.