Former Barclays chief 'wooed investors in doomed super bank'

SHAMED former Barclays chief Bob Diamond is at the centre of a fresh multi-million pound scandal after a disastrous bid to launch an African "super bank".

-  Cyril Dixon

Once dubbed "the unacceptable face of banking", he will be accused in court of leaving partners nearly £80million out of pocket.

Diamond is alleged to have lured investors with a bold promise of creating new jobs, businesses and wealth for locals in Zambia.

The Daily Express has learnt Zambian banker Rajan Mahtani and wealthy British expat Joan Craven claim to feel "devastated" and "betrayed" after doing business with him.

Notorious

They are suing the company he founded, Atlas Mara, for damages of £80million in the High Court in a trial to begin later this month.

One source said: "There is such an injustice here.

"Everything was agreed, and everything has been breached."