A London-based lawyer has appeared in court charged with stealing more than �380,000 from Enron, the giant US energy company that collapsed last year.

Marcus von Bock und Polach, 37, of Aberdare Gardens, Hampstead, north London, appeared at Bow Street Magistrates Court on Tuesday.

He is accused of stealing �94,000 from Enron Power Operations Ltd and �287,374 from Enron Capital and Trade Resources International Corporation.

He also faces three counts of false accounting.

No link

A police spokesman told BBC News Online that the case did not relate to the high-profile collapse of the US corporate giant.

"It's not connected to that other business," the spokesman said, referring to the US investigation into Enron's collapse.

Von Bock, dressed in a suit and tie, spoke only to confirm his name and address.

He was remanded on bail and is due to appear again at Bow Street on 23 July.