LONDON (AP) — An American man who authorities say faked his personal demise to evade prosecution for rape and monetary fraud earlier than fleeing to Scotland was jailed Friday after he failed to point out up for an extradition listening to.
Nicholas Alahverdian, who has used various aliases together with Nicholas Rossi, was denied bail at Edinburgh Sheriff Court docket after being arrested in Glasgow on Thursday. The 34-year-old will probably be again in court docket on Feb. 10 for a preliminary listening to, with a full listening to scheduled for Feb. 17, Scottish court docket officers mentioned.
His legal professional, Fred Waterproof coat, didn't instantly reply to a request for remark.
Alahverdian was first arrested on Dec. 13 at Queen Elizabeth College Hospital in Glasgow, the place he was being handled for COVID-19. The suspect, who was utilizing the identify Arthur Knight, appeared in court docket by video hyperlink on Dec. 23 and was granted bail so he might preserve receiving medical remedy whereas awaiting extradition proceedings.
Prosecutors allege Alahverdian discharged himself the next day and returned to his residence in Glasgow. He was arrested Thursday after failing to attend a listening to within the extradition case.
Sheriff Alistair Noble, the Scottish judicial officer who presided over Friday’s listening to, mentioned bail was initially granted on the understanding that Alahverdian would want to stay within the hospital for “a minimum of a number of weeks.” However Noble mentioned a health care provider on the hospital has indicated that the suspect can now obtain the remedy he wants whereas in jail.
Noble ordered Alahverdian to be held with out bail as a result of he “can't be trusted.”
Utah County Lawyer David Leavitt’s workplace, which has charged Alahverdian in reference to a 2008 rape in Utah, confirmed Alahverdian’s arrest however mentioned it wouldn’t touch upon the extradition proceedings.
Leavitt’s workplace says Alahverdian, who was then utilizing the identify Nicholas Rossi, sexually assaulted a former girlfriend in Orem, Utah. The workplace has mentioned its investigation discovered different complaints alleging abuse and threatening habits towards girls in different states.
Authorities in Rhode Island have mentioned Alahverdian can also be wished of their state for failing to register as a intercourse offender. The FBI has mentioned he faces fraud costs in Ohio, the place he was convicted of sex-related costs in 2008.
In recent times, Alahverdian had been an outspoken critic of Rhode Island’s Division of Kids, Youth and Households, testifying earlier than state lawmakers about being sexually abused and tortured whereas in foster care.
Then in 2020, he advised native media he had late-stage non-Hodgkin lymphoma and had weeks to stay.
An obituary revealed on-line claimed he died on Feb. 29, 2020. However by final 12 months, Rhode Island state police, Alahverdian’s former lawyer and former foster household had been publicly doubting whether or not he really died.
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Philip Marcelo in Boston contributed to this story.