A Syrian fugitive, Mohamad Agha, 51, who was sought by Romanian authorities for attempted murder, was discovered residing in British council housing and receiving approximately £2,000 per month in benefits, Westminster Magistrates' Court was informed. Agha had been evading justice for years, with a portion of that time funded by the British taxpayer.
The incident occurred on August 26, 2020, in Bucium, Romania, when Agha attacked a driver with a pickaxe handle after a dispute over parking. The victim, Galea Andrei Calin, was left unconscious and required 25 days of hospitalization for his injuries. Agha was charged with attempted murder and attended his trial but failed to appear for the final two hearings before fleeing to the United Kingdom. He was convicted in absentia and sentenced to four years in prison in Romania.
While living in the UK, Agha challenged his Romanian conviction unsuccessfully in March 2023, which led to a European Arrest Warrant being issued for him. He reportedly arrived in the UK with his wife in 2018, and the couple, who married in the UK in 2020, had two daughters born in the UK. Agha claimed to have been granted five years' leave to remain in the UK by the Home Office, though the specifics of this permission were not detailed in court.
Following a Europe-wide search, Agha was apprehended by the National Crime Agency's extradition unit on April 10, 2025. His subsequent extradition battle lasted 15 months. He was only returned to Romania after the High Court denied his final appeal last month. Agha was extradited on July 30.
During his time in the UK, Agha previously worked as a lorry driver but stopped after sustaining a back injury in 2023, leading him to claim disability benefits. His wife stated they moved to the UK for a better life and that she has been caring for him since his injury. She indicated they were struggling financially, relying on Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payments totaling between £1,600 and £2,000 monthly, with Agha receiving about £500 per month in PIP before his incarceration.
In his judgment, District Judge John Zani acknowledged the hardship extradition would cause Agha's family but stated that the severity of the criminal conduct outweighed these concerns, paving the way for his extradition.