An American fraudster who faked his own death, then fled to Scotland to escape sex charges only to be arrested after almost dying of COVID was briefly declared a fugitive after he failed to show up to an extradition hearing.
Scottish officials confirmed to DailyMail.com yesterday that Nicholas Alahverdian, 34, failed to appear for an extradition hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff’s Court on Thursday and that a warrant was issued for his arrest.
He was later hours nabbed at a Scottish residence, said the Utah County District Attorney’s office, which is seeking him for a rape charge.
It is unclear whether the address where Alahverdian was found was the same one he had given during a bail hearing on December 23, and whether that address had been checked before the warrant for his arrest was issued.
It also remains unclear why Alahverdrian was freed on bail following a hearing held via videolink from Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth Hospital las December 23. A spokesman for Edinburgh Sheriff’s Office refused to comment when asked for details of why Alahverdian had been released, given his status as a known fraudster.
No details have been given on when Alahverdian, who also goes by the surname Rossi, was discharged from Queen Elizabeth Hospital after recovering from COVID. Officials have yet to disclose his current health status – although he was put on a ventilator with a serious COVID infection shortly before his arrest. DailyMail.com has contacted the facility for further…
