Russia hands fraudster to North African state (VIDEO)

The convict was returned to Algeria after serving a six-year sentence in Russia

Moscow has extradited an Algerian citizen, found guilty of fraud in his home country, after he served a six-year sentence in Russia on related charges.

On Wednesday, the extradition of Mohammed Abu-Shawareb was confirmed by the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office, following a request from the Algerian Ministry of Justice.

“The Prosecutor General’s Office of the Russian Federation granted a request from the Ministry of Justice of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria to extradite a foreign citizen who was convicted by a court in Bir Mourad Rais on fraud charges,” the statement said.

The charges in Algeria stemmed from Abu-Shawareb’s activities between 2011 and 2012, when he forged documents and embezzled funds from the Agency for Real Estate Promotion and Management in Blida, and a branch of Arab Bank. 

The amount stolen exceeded 48 million Algerian dinars ($359,900). The methods of the former construction company owner included forging and misusing the seals of the Algerian firm Biotech SARL, alongside a company manager’s signature.

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In November 2016, he was sentenced to prison in Algeria on fraud charges, but managed to flee the country. In June 2018, he was arrested in Moscow on suspicion of committing criminal deception on Russian territory.

“The intruder, under the pretext of booking hotel rooms, fraudulently received money from a woman. He then fled, not fulfilling his obligations and causing material damage of more than 1.2 million rubles (more than $12 000),” Russian Interior Ministry spokeswoman Irina Volk said.

A Moscow court sentenced him to six years in prison in 2019. In September, the Russian authorities decided to grant a request from Algeria to hand over the prisoner.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted a bill to the State Duma to ratify an extradition convention with Algeria, signed in Moscow on June 15, 2023. The document requires both nations to deport individuals at each other’s request for criminal prosecution or sentencing.

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A video shared by the Prosecutor General’s Office showed the man being escorted by guards for his flight to Algeria, where he will now face sentencing.