EOCO seeks public assistance to arrest Lebanese convicted for fraud
The convict, Naji Khalil, who was tried in absentia because he jumped bail, was sentenced to five years imprisonment on 22nd June 2022.
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) says it's appealing to Ghanaians for information to arrest a Lebanese national who was convicted for fraud by an Accra Circuit Court in June 2022.
The convict, Naji Khalil, who was tried in absentia because he jumped bail, was sentenced to five years imprisonment on 22nd June 2022 on two counts of Conspiracy to Defraud by False Pretence and Defrauding by False Pretence.
“The accused at the time of investigation was a member of a notorious international organized criminal group including Nabil Zayani (Lebanese), Abraham Faouri (Jordanian), and Tony Michaelis.
They were charged with Conspiracy to Defraud by False Pretence, Defrauding by False Pretence, Participating in Organised Criminal Group, Conspiracy to Commit Crime to wit Money Laundering and Money Laundering,” a statement from EOCO said.
According to EOCO, the group defrauded an Algerian national, Dr. Khadidja Katir of an amount of USD138,000, under the pretext of airlifting ‘rough crystals’ worth USD 4 billion to her in Malta.
“In April 2019, the victim Dr. Khadidja Katir, an Algerian national, reported to EOCO and alleged that she had been defrauded by an organised crime group based in Ghana comprising of four (4) suspects Naji Khalil, Nabil Zayani, Abraham Faouri and Tony Michaelis.
Following several telephone calls after the victim had transferred the money, the accused persons refused to pick calls from her. However, on one occasion that they finally picked up her call, they threatened to kill her if she ever set foot in Ghana,” the statement further said.
“Anyone who has information on the whereabouts of the convict should contact the Office directly or through EOCO helpline 0257044779 or our Official WhatsApp Line 057979066.”
