Man found guilty of helping escaped prisoner Daniel Khalife

Man found guilty of helping escaped: ing Prison Escapee Daniel Khalife Ninoda.com – Adeel Khan, aged 32 and residing in Waltham Forest, east London, has

London Man Convicted of Aiding Prison Escapee Daniel Khalife

Ninoda.com – Adeel Khan, aged 32 and residing in Waltham Forest, east London, has been convicted of assisting Daniel Khalife during the fugitive’s time at large. The court determined that Khan provided support from inside the correctional facility and helped channel funds to Khalife following his widely publicized departure in September 2023.

Conversely, Imran Chowdhury, 26, of Chingford in east London, was acquitted of identical allegations.

The Escape and Its Aftermath

Khalife triggered a country-wide pursuit after slipping away from HMP Wandsworth, where he was preparing for trial on espionage accusations. He managed to flee by securing himself beneath a food delivery vehicle. Following his capture, the British soldier received a sentence of fourteen years and three months for his activities on behalf of Iran.

According to Snaresbrook Crown Court, Khan and Khalife had previously worked together in the prison’s kitchen. Evidence presented revealed that following his breakout, Khalife made multiple telephone calls to Khan using devices temporarily borrowed from bystanders.

Key Evidence Presented

When authorities apprehended Khalife, they discovered a red diary in his possession containing Khan’s name alongside an unauthorized prison telephone number, a personal mobile line, and a Snapchat username, as photographs displayed to the court demonstrated.

Prosecutors argued that Khalife was carrying approximately £200 in twenty-pound denominations at the time of his arrest. This sum was allegedly extracted from a £400 cash machine withdrawal conducted by Chowdhury in Richmond, south-west London, on the very day Khalife escaped.

At approximately 20:41 BST, shortly after Khalife’s disappearance from custody, Khan sent a message to Chowdhury, who was then his girlfriend, providing her banking information. The text instructed her to “put 120£ in this ac… please thank u baby”.

The £120 transfer was completed in Chowdhury’s Barclays account by 21:55. Court testimony indicated that Khan played a crucial role in organizing a subsequent meeting between Chowdhury and Khalife. Following this encounter, Chowdhury withdrew the full £400 on behalf of the escaped prisoner.

Jury Deliberation and Verdict

After more than four hours of consideration, the jury returned its decision on Tuesday, convicting Khan while acquitting Chowdhury.

Chowdhury’s legal representative, James Hasslacher, explained to jurors that his client was unaware she was interacting with a fugitive, characterizing Khalife as a spy “who knows how to deceive”. Hasslacher further noted that Chowdhury possessed “good character” with no prior convictions and held a well-paid position at the Telegraph newspaper.

“Didn’t know what the hell was going on,” Judge Murray Shanks remarked regarding Chowdhury’s situation, adding that he found it a “reasonable verdict, I have to admit”.

Khan remains in custody and is scheduled for sentencing on 4 September.