A man who fled to Dubai after he was convicted of fraud has appeared at Birmingham Magistrates’ Court today. Zahid Khan had previously been jailed for 10 years in his absence over conspiracy to commit fraud, transferring criminal property and perverting the course of justice.
Khan, 37, from Moseley, fled the country before the end of his trial back in 2018. West Midlands Police have been working with Interpol and overseas law enforcement agencies to bring him back to the UK to face justice.
The force said he was arrested by Interpol in Turkey on November 27. He was arrested in the UK by West Midlands Police following his deportation on Friday, December 22.
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Khan was charged with failing to appear and appeared in front of JPs at the city’s magistrates court. He was remanded in custody. His next court appearance will be at Birmingham Crown Court on January 15, 2024.
In January, Khan announced he was “coming back to face the music” and claimed he had now lodged an appeal against the conviction at the High Court. In the pledge with Shukeel A Chohan, a Birmingham-based host of the Online Networking Club channel, he said: “If the outcome is in my favour I will come back. If the outcome is not in my favour I will still come back and do my time. I’ll have to do seven years.
“I’m not gonna leave my family… I was born in the UK, that’s my home. I will come back, face the music, one way or another.” Khan said he only fled the UK after being convicted of a £500,000 number plate scam because he wanted to submit his appeal while free on the outside, rather than languishing in jail.
He said: “All I wanted to do was get my appeal done while I had my freedom. In jail, I’d have never have been able to do it. I’ve done it now. I’m happy to say whatever the outcome, I’ll accept it. Hopefully, it is gonna happen soon.”
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William Turner is a seasoned U.K. correspondent with a deep understanding of domestic affairs. With a passion for British politics and culture, he provides insightful analysis and comprehensive coverage of events within the United Kingdom.
