Daniel Khalife, the former soldier who escaped from HMP Wandsworth by clinging to the underside of a food delivery truck, was allegedly assisted by two friends — one providing instructions from inside the prison and the other supplying money on the ground, a court has heard.
Adeel Khan, 32, and Imran Chowdhury, 26, both from east London, have pleaded not guilty to helping Khalife abscond in September 2023. Khan, who worked alongside Khalife in the prison kitchen, is accused of acting as the inside man, while Chowdhury, who lived a mile from Khan, allegedly provided cash.
“Two men allegedly helped escaped spy Daniel Khalife after he fled prison under a food truck, a court heard.”
Prosecutor Tom Williams told Snaresbrook Crown Court: "The prosecution's case is that Khan was providing instructions from inside Wandsworth, and that Chowdhury was the man on the ground, providing money to a man who had escaped from the same prison that morning."
Khalife, who sparked a nationwide manhunt after his escape, was arrested on a canal towpath days later. He was carrying a red diary containing Khan's name, an illegal prison phone number, his personal mobile number and his Snapchat account, the court heard. Khalife also had about £200 in £20 notes — money prosecutors say came from a £400 withdrawal made by Chowdhury at a cash machine in Richmond on the day of the escape. Chowdhury was paid £120 for this.
In the hours after his escape, Khalife called Khan several times using phones borrowed from members of the public. "All Khalife had with him, at this point, was what he had been able to take with him under a food lorry — and that wasn't going to last him very long," Williams said.
Shortly after Khalife left the prison at about 20:41, Khan texted his then-girlfriend, Nazish Mahmood, with Chowdhury's bank details, writing: "put 120£ in this ac… please thank u baby." At 21:55, the £120 arrived in Chowdhury's Barclays account, and later that evening Khalife and Chowdhury were seen walking along a street in Richmond at 22:38 before entering an alley.
Khalife was sentenced last year to 14 years and three months for spying for Iran. The trial of Khan and Chowdhury continues.
