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Billionaire's drugs let off
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent29.07.08
A London billionaire and his wife caught with class A drugs have had all charges against them dropped, a court was told today.
Hans Kristian Rausing, 45, and his wife Eva, 44, were arrested in April after Mrs Rausing tried to smuggle small amounts of crack cocaine and heroin into a reception at the US embassy in Grosvenor Square.
Police then searched their £5 million Chelsea home and more drugs were found.
Mr Rausing, heir to the £5.4billion Tetra Pak cartons empire, was charged with possessing
5.63grams of crack cocaine, 2.9g of heroin and 52g of cocaine. Mrs Rausing faced charges of possessing Class A and Class C drugs.
But at City of Westminster magistrates' court today, prosecutor Martha Godwin said charges were being dropped. Instead, the couple will have to go to Charing Cross police station where they will be cautioned by an officer.
In a statement today, Mr Rausing's parents said they were supporting the couple in their fight to overcome drug addiction. It read: "The Rausing family are deeply saddened by Hans K's and Eva's situation, and the events leading up to their court appearance today. We hope with all our hearts that Hans K and Eva can overcome their addiction and we continue to do what we can to help."
The couple will have to formally admit the offences when they are cautioned. It is understood police originally wanted to issue the couple with a caution because of the small amount of drugs found on them, deemed to be for personal use, and because it was their first offence.
However, it was a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service duty lawyer to charge them at the time. When they first appeared in court the CPS had changed its mind.
Philip Smith, representing the Rausings, said there had been considerable correspondence between him and the CPS which resulted in this "very sensible decision". Neither of the Rausings was required to attend the two-minute hearing.
District Judge Timothy Workman said that when the case returns to court on 12 August the charges will be discontinued. He renewed bail for the defendants.
After they were charged Mrs Rausing issued a statement apologising for the "upset we have caused" and thanking friends and family for standing by them.
The family's wealth was created by Mr Rausing's grandfather who founded the largest packing company in the world. Mr Rausing's Swedish-born father Ruben, 82, has homes in Barbados, Sweden and Wadhurst, East Sussex, where he collects vintage cars and raises deer. He recently made a substantial donation to the Conservative Party.
Mrs Rausing is the daughter of a wealthy Pepsi executive. Mr Rausing's sister Sigrid is one of Britain's most generous philanthropists.
Reader views (20)
I concur with Mike C.
A "huge" fine to go towards rehab programs for the poor plus community service work in drugs neighbourhoods in London and Barbados.
- Chris Smith, Winnipeg, Canada
Jim London,
That is not the point. These people are so rich, they should be given a massive fine - Say 100K +, the money of which could be used on inner city drug rehabilitation programs and the like. Getting away with a caution is an insult to normal people.
- Mike C, London
OK for the rich.
- Eric West, Lowestoft England
I would like to celebrate with the Rausings on their good news! Where's the party guys?!
- N Cook, London, UK
They don't lock anybody up for drugs as a first offence (except dealing), or joy riding, or theft plus countless other offences. Are you all poor and bitter?
- Jim, London
52 g's of coke and let of with a caution! This country is ridiculous.
- Nick Bacon, London
56g of cocaine is not a small amount anyone else they would be classed as a dealer for this amount alone.
- Lorraine Kelly, United Kingdom
What a load of nonsense in the other comments. Everyone gets a slap on the wrist for first offence drug possession regardless of wealth. It is probably a bitter, jealous CPS duty lawyer who decided to buck the trend and proceed with a case. The only difference between this couple and a man on the dole is that they have to suffer the disgrace of being plastered all over the newspapers.
- Steve, London
What? Since when is 52g of Charlie categorised as Percy? When you move to Chelsea?
- What, London, UK
I'm glad all the extra pennies we have paid over the years for the un-openable milk carton finally have been put to such good use.
- Blackstone Coke, London
52 grams of coke = personal? That makes me laugh. That is like 1000 fat lines each. That is certainly enough to get done for intent to supply, and life in prison in many countries.
- Zen, London
Money can't buy you love, but it's useful stuff if you want to get hold of class A drugs and then very useful stuff if you want to buy 'justice' if you get caught with said drugs!
- Bobby Smith, london
Well what do you know, one law for the rich another for the poor. What a corrupt country this is.
- Kenneth Bowry, London
If it had been some poor soul on the dole, they would have been locked away!
- Jenny Livy, Christchurch. UK
A clear case of one law for the rich and one law for the working class. Had it been me found with that quantity of drugs, what's the bet I wouldn't have just received a caution (not that I do drugs anyway!).
- Tom Kyle, Stevenage UK
One rule for the Rich...
- David Russel, Newcastle UK
Here we go again. Money talks. One law for them, another for us. A crime's a crime after all. Why not make them pay say a million or two for drugs charities?
- Michael Spencer, Toronto, Canada
I wonder how much that cost them.
- Charlie, London
One law for the rich, and one for the poor. Is it a wonder no-one takes law and order seriously.
- Simon - Bucharest, bucharest - Romania
Scandalous. Rich criminals get red-carpet treatment because they can pay for lawyers to tie up the CPS in "considerable correspondence". I'm amazed they didn't claim legal aid while they were about it.
No ifs, no buts.
They should both be imprisoned and then deported.
- Drew, London
