A former Enron treasurer has agreed to surrender more than half a million dollars he made as part of a business deal engineered by indicted ex-chief financial officer Andrew Fastow.

It's like there is a bank robbery, and you say that you had nothing to do with it, but then say, 'here's the money back'

Ben Glisan, who served as Enron's treasurer until he was ousted last year, agreed to hand over $625,000 (�390,000) of the more than $1m he made from a partnership called Southampton Place.

"I consent to this payment despite my honest belief that I was an innocent owner of that money," Mr Glisan wrote in a court filing last week.

He admitted no guilt in doing so.

Mr Glisan paid $412,000 in income taxes in 2001 on the proceeds from the deal.

Investigation

One lawyer familiar with the case questioned the wisdom of returning the funds while refusing to admit guilt.

"It's like there is a bank robbery, and you say that you had nothing to do with it, but then say, 'here's the money back,'" the lawyer said.

The US Justice Department charges the money was stolen from Enron's coffers.

Federal investigators have been looking into the off-balance-sheet partnership since earlier this year and have sought to seize the money.

Money laundering

The off-books deal was engineered by Mr Fastow, whose handling of Enron's finances led to the Houston energy trader's demise late last year.

The government began forfeiture proceedings against the individuals involved in Southampton Place scheme, including Mr Glisan, in August.

Mr Glisan said he had a change of heart about the legality of the funds in reviewing court documents in the criminal case against Mr Fastow and his assistant, Michael Kopper.

Mr Fastow was arrested in October, charged with 78 counts of fraud and money-laundering but remains free on $5m bond.

In a plea deal reached in August, Mr Kopper pleaded guilty to fraud and money-laundering charges and is cooperating with investigators.