Court proceedings to extradite the former vice chairman of Gillingham FC to America over multi-million pound fraud claims have been further adjourned.

Businessman Michael Anderson appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court last Thursday where he was told a full hearing into the matter would be held on January 24.

The same bail conditions imposed in June at a video-link hearing from his cell at Wandsworth Prison apply.

As previously reported, he was released on bail after his family agreed to pay £400,000.

Anderson was arrested at Heathrow Airport when returning from a holiday in Portugal after American authorities issued an Interpol 'red notice' against his name.

The prosecution had argued the 68-year-old, who has UK and Irish passports, was "likely to abscond".

But Ben Watson, defending, said his client was a well-known public figure who had travelled extensively during the years US authorities had wanted him and had always returned to his £2.8 million West Malling home.

Anderson faces charges of conspiring to defraud Tricare – a US government healthcare programme for members and veterans of the armed forces and their families.

The alleged crimes are said to have taken place between June 2014 and December 2015 in Florida and amount to nearly £4.4 million.

He is also charged with two counts of money laundering.

The company boss, whose address was given as Broadwater Road, ran a Florida-based drugs company and has been indicted by a grand jury.

It is claimed he and and conspirators generated false prescriptions before submitting fraudulent reimbursement claims.

Strict bail conditions include him abiding by a curfew between midnight and 4am, not leaving England and Wales and not going to any airport, seaport or international rail station.

Mr Watson told the court his client, who denies all charges, was an unwell man currently going through an amicable divorce with wife Sophie.

He added that Mr Anderson was also detained in Dubai in 2019 but did US authorities did not follow through with an extradition application.

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