Scotland Yard has launched an investigation into allegations that millions of pounds went missing from a fundraising campaign run by Lord Archer in aid of Kurdish refugees.
Liberal Democrat MEP Baroness Nicholson said earlier this week she would be lodging a complaint on the stg£57 million Archer claimed was collected for Kurds in Iraq by the 1991 Simple Truth campaign.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said last night: ``We can confirm that the commissioner received a letter from Baroness Nicholson today. The Metropolitan Police Service is carrying out a preliminary assessment of the facts.''
"A decision will be made in due course as to whether future action may or may not be appropriate,'' the spokesman added.
Baroness Nicholson, who defected from the Tories in 1995, claimed "practically nothing'' had reached the Kurdish people.
"This is a matter that has been long-running for me and I am delighted that it is possible to get the spotlight on it, because I think the Kurds have been treated very badly.''
The appeal by Archer, who was convicted of perjury and perverting the course of justice at the Old Bailey last Thursday, centred on a high-profile charity concert staged at Wembley Arena in London.
Attracting support from singers Chris de Burgh, Paul Simon and Sting, and was watched by a worldwide television audience of 50 million.
MrJohn Major, the Prime Minister at the time, pledged 10 million for the Kurds from the Government.
PA