Investment broker Mr Tony Taylor has begun his appeal against extradition from Britain to face 15 fraud-related charges.

An application of habeas corpus was made on Mr Taylor's behalf on Wednesday in the High Court in London, his solicitor, Mr Alaistair Harper said yesterday.

The former principal of Taylor Asset Management must now wait for the case to be listed for hearing. Mr Harper said he did not know when this would occur. It is unlikely to take place next week.

Pending the hearing, the extradition proceedings initiated in Brighton Magistrates Court two weeks ago are stayed. Mr Harper would not say what arguments would be put forward against Mr Taylor's extradition when the case comes to court. He also would not comment on whether there would be any bail application on Mr Taylor's behalf. Mr Taylor, who went missing in August 1996, is being held in Lewes Prison. The Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation tracked Mr Taylor to a rented home in Eastbourne about two weeks ago and he was arrested by British police on August 11th. The 15 extradition warrants issued against him are in relation to crimes involving in excess of £600,000.

Sources here said the most likely grounds for appeal by Mr Taylor would be to argue that the crimes with which he is being charged do not have direct equivalents in British law and that he should not therefore be extradited.

It is understood that extensive preparatory work was carried out here in ensuring that the charges on which the extradition warrants are based have equivalents in British law, and the Garda feels confident the extradition will proceed.

The charges against Mr Taylor concern alleged fraudulent conversion, breaches of the Forgery Act, the Companies Act, the Investment Intermediaries Act and obtaining money by false pretences.