EOCO on a manhunt for convicted Lebanese who jumped bail

A Lebanese by name Naji Khalil has been sentenced to five years imprisonment by the Accra Circuit Court 4 presided over by His Honour M.E. Essandoh.

Naji Khalil was before the court for offences including 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.

However, Naji Khalil’s sentence was done in absentia because he had jumped bail during the trial and the court issued bench warrant for his arrest.

Naji Khalil according to EOCO is a member of notorious international organized criminal group including Nabil Zayani (Lebanese), Abraham Faouri (Jordanian) and Tony Michaelis.

Meanwhile, his three other accomplices are currently at large.

Below is the full statement:

LEBANESE NATIONAL JAILED 5 YEARS BY AN ACCRA CIRCUIT COURT

The Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) on 5th August, 2020 arraigned one Lebanese National by name Naji Khalil before the Accra Circuit Court 4 presided over by His Honour M.E. Essandoh, after haven been investigated for serious offences.

The accused at the time of investigation was a member of 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.

On 22nd June, 2022, 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.

The convict, Naji Khalil was tried in absentia because he jumped bail during the trial and the court issued bench warrant for his arrest.

The three (3) others were at large at the time of the court action therefore were not available to take their pleas.

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.

FACTS OF THE CASE

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 to the tune of USD138,000. This was done under the pretext of airlifting ‘rough crystals’ worth USD4Billion to her in Malta.

Following several telephone calls after the victim had transferred the moneys, the accused persons refused to pick calls from her. However, on one occasion that they finally picked her call, they threatened to kill her if she ever set foot in Ghana.

Despite the threats, the victim Dr. Khadidja Katir arrived in Ghana where she lodged a complaint at EOCO for investigation. Investigations confirmed that the suspects are members of an international organised criminal syndicate that defrauds members of the unsuspecting public.