Martha Stewart denied visa to U.K.

Martha Stewart denied visa to U.K. Martha Stewart has been denied visa by the British embassy to enter the U.K., due to her 2004 felony conviction, it was reported today. "She has engagements with English companies and business leaders and hopes this can be resolved so that she will be able to visit soon," Charles Koppelman, chairman of her company Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, said in a released statement. The U.K. denied visa to the homemaker due to her 2004 conviction for lying to investigators about a share sale. Martha Stewart spent 5 months in prison and 5 months of house arrest, after found guilty of conspiracy, making false statements and obstruction of agency proceedings, stemming from her sale of stock in biotech company ImClone Systems Inc. on December 27, 2001. "We continue to oppose the entry to the UK of individuals where we believe their presence in the United Kingdom is not conducive to the public good or where they have been found guilty of serious criminal offenses abroad," spokesman for Britain's Home Office said, adding that the UK Border Agency has a policy of not discussing individual cases.

Published on 06/21/2008