Steve Jobs, the Apple founder and chief executive, has been subpoenaed by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to give evidence as part of a case on backdating stock options at the technology company.

The SEC will take Mr Jobs’ deposition as part of a civil case against Apple’s former general counsel, Nancy Heinen, who is accused of fraudulent backdating and of altering company records to conceal the fraud.

The case, filed in April, focuses on two large options grants to Apple executives in 2001, including one to Mr Jobs.

During the investigation by the SEC, which led to the case against Ms Heinen, Mr Jobs was interviewed. Apple, which conducted a separate investigation on the matter, cleared the founder of any misconduct

Ms Heinen is denying the SEC’s allegations that she doctored documents to backdate stock options granted to Mr Jobs, to reflect they had been approved during an October 2001 meeting that never occurred.

Court records show that the SEC issued three subpoenas last month, one of which went to Ms Heinen.

Additional subpoenas are expected, according to court records.

In addition to Ms Heinen, the SEC charged Fred Anderson, the former Apple chief financial officer, in connection with the backdating allegations.

Mr Anderson settled the case and, without acknowledging wrongdoing, agreed to pay about $3.5 million (£1.7 million) in fines and penalties.

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