DUBAI // A convicted sex offender making a getaway to Dubai on an Emirates flight was arrested at Dublin Airport as he boarded.
Pakistani Mian Mujahid Ali Shahid, 19, was sentenced in absentia in April at Stafford Crown Court in England to 30 months in jail for two sexual assaults on an 18-year-old woman.
He fled to Scotland, where he lived for a short time before travelling to Ireland earlier this year, Irish authorities said.
Ireland’s national police service, An Garda Siochana, said it was unaware of why he was flying to Dubai.
“He was trying to board a plane, what other plans he had after that wouldn’t concern us,” said a spokesman.
“All we know is that he was trying to leave our jurisdiction and there was a European arrest warrant issued against him.”
Shahid was arrested on Monday at about 10.40pm and held at Clontarf Garda Station.
Police in the UK had sent Garda a request to assist in tracking down Shahid, against whom the European arrest warrant was issued on July 24.
He was taken to Ireland’s High Court on Tuesday and he now faces being extradited to the UK to serve his sentence.
dmoukhallati@thenational.ae
