Escaped British soldier Daniel Khalife found guilty of spying for Iran

With Kathy Rose O’Brien CNN

Former soldier Daniel Khalife was found guilty of spying for Iran.
Photograph: Metropolitan Police via CNN Newsource

A former British soldier Escape from London prison Last year ignited a spark three day manhunt He was found guilty of spying for Iran.

A jury convicted Daniel Khalife, 23, despite claims it was an attempt to work as a double agent to help British security agencies. Prosecutors said at his trial that it was a “cynical ruse”.

The spy, who admitted to escaping from prison, was cleared of bomb fraud.

According to Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Khalife reached out to an “intermediary” with ties to Iran by sending a Facebook message and claiming on his behalf that he would remain undercover in the British Army for more than 25 years.

According to PA, senior military officials and security services say he prepared and forwarded fake documents from so-called MPs, but also sent genuine army documents. A document containing the personal information of special forces soldiers was also revealed.

“He secretly sought and obtained copies of classified and sensitive information that he knew was protected and passed them on to individuals he believed were acting on behalf of the Iranian state,” CPS’ Bethan David said in a statement on Thursday.

“He accepted hundreds of pounds for his efforts and even traveled to Turkey as part of his illegal behaviour,” David added.

Khalife’s lawyer Gul Nawaz Hussain KC said the double agent plot was more “Scooby-Doo” than James Bond and “at times bordered on a joke”.

Khalife was first arrested at a barracks in England in January 2022 and told officers he had received £1500 (NZ$3288) in a dog waste bag from Iranian handlers as part of deals he made with them.

He managed to escape Wandsworth Prison in September 2023, disguised as a chef and strapped to the underside of a delivery van.

While escaping, he tried to contact his handlers by sending the message “I’m waiting.” He was caught only three days later via Telegram.

Caliph will be sentenced early next year.

-CNN