Lawyers defend fugitive ex-CEO

Lawyers for the fugitive founder and former chief executive of Comverse Technology Inc., who faces 35 criminal counts stemming from backdated options, said Tuesday that he relied on lawyers and accountants when dealing with the securities.

The lawyers also compared the case of their client, Jacob “Kobi” Alexander, to that of Apple Inc. CEO Steve Jobs, who hasn’t faced any charges for his role in Apple’s options scandal.

Alexander, 55, faces charges including conspiracy, securities fraud and money laundering in federal court in New York. He was arrested in September in Namibia, where he is free on bail while the U.S. seeks his return.

In an e-mailed statement, Alexander’s lawyers in Namibia said options backdating was not illegal. “The charges relate to the disclosure and accounting treatment of the options,” the lawyers wrote. However, they added, “Alexander is neither a lawyer nor an accountant.”