EOCO Flags Lebanese As Fugitive
The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) has appealed to the general public for assistance in the arrest of Naji Khalil, a Lebanese who was convicted in Ghana in 2022.
Khalil jumped bail in 2020 while on trial on the charges of 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.
According to EOCO, Khalil’s victim, Dr Khadidja Katir, an Algerian national, reported she had been defrauded by an organised crime group based in Ghana to the tune of USD138,000 under the pretext of airlifting ‘rough crystals’ worth USD 4 Billion to her in Malta.
This was in 2019.
She said the group comprised four (4) suspects: Naji Khalil, Nabil Zayani, Abraham Faouri and Tony Michaelis. This was done.
Khalil was arrested and arraigned before the Accra Circuit Court 4 in August 2020 but later jumped bail. He was therefore tried in absentia, the Office said.
The court presided over by His Honour M. E. Essandoh sentenced Naji Khalil to five (5) years imprisonment with hard labour on two counts of Conspiracy to Defraud by False Pretence and Defrauding by False Pretence on 22nd June, 2022.
EOCO has therefore called on the public to aid in the arrest of the fugitive.
“This Office is hereby appealing to the general public for assistance towards the arrest of the said convict to serve his just prison terms. 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.”
Source: opemsuo.com/Hajara Fuseini
