The Natwest Three, the UK bankers accused of a fraud linked to the Enron collapse, are believed to be a fortnight away from securing a plead bargain deal with US prosecutors.

If the deal is secured, it will see some charges dropped in return for the bankers admitting others, the Sunday Times reports.

The three bankers, Giles Murphy, David Bermingham and Gary Mulgrew, have always protested their innocence but have failed to avoid extradition to the US.

If they are found guilty of all the charges against them, the bankers could face decades in prison. Admitting certain charges and having others dropped, however, could see the bankers serve as little as a year.

Further reading:

Natwest Three in plea bargain talks

Natwest Three in witness outcry