In a case that has captured widespread attention, a 25-year-old man has denied charges of assisting the escaped prisoner Daniel Khalife.
Imran Chowdhury, from Chingford in East London, appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court where he faced accusations of helping Khalife, the former British army soldier, by allegedly giving him £400 in cash after his escape.
The Charges and the Court Hearing
Chowdhury, who was arrested in January 2024, was formally charged in December 2024 with one count of assisting an escaped prisoner.
During the brief court hearing today, he confirmed his name, address, and date of birth but did not comment further on the charges.
The District Judge, Briony Clark, ruled that the seriousness of the charge required a higher court’s attention and scheduled a hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court for February 4, 2025.
Chowdhury was granted bail with conditions, including staying at his home in Parade Gardens, Chingford.
Details of the Alleged Assistance
Prosecutor Emma Harraway told the court that Chowdhury was accused of meeting Khalife shortly after his dramatic escape and allegedly withdrawing £400 from an ATM for him.
This money, it is claimed, allowed Khalife to buy essential items such as food, clothing to conceal his identity, and phone top-ups while on the run.
Chowdhury’s alleged involvement came after Khalife’s high-profile escape from HMP Wandsworth, which sparked a nationwide manhunt.
Khalife had escaped by hiding underneath a food delivery van, an audacious plan that was not detected until it was too late.
Khalife’s Escape and Trial
Khalife, 23, had been held in Wandsworth Prison after being charged with espionage for passing secrets to Iranian agents.
He was found guilty in November 2024, and further charges were added for his daring escape.
After being on the run for three days, Khalife was finally apprehended while riding a stolen mountain bike near Northolt, West London, approximately 14 miles away from the prison.
His escape itself was a significant blunder by prison staff.
Despite an alarm being raised about a missing inmate, officers allowed the food delivery truck to leave the prison, and Khalife managed to remain hidden underneath until the vehicle stopped, at which point he slipped away undetected.
Imran Chowdhury’s Role and Further Developments
Chowdhury’s alleged role in assisting Khalife has added another layer to the story of the escape.
While Chowdhury has denied the charges, the evidence presented by the prosecution includes claims that he was involved in helping Khalife shortly after his escape.
A 25-year-old woman, arrested in February 2024 on suspicion of helping Khalife, was not charged further after investigations.
Khalife’s espionage activities, which had already resulted in a guilty verdict, now look set to send him to prison for a long time, with sentencing yet to be determined.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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