FUGITIVE ON MOST WANTED LIST OVER TEEN’S MURDER
WALES’ most wanted man, Mohammed Ali Ege, has now become one of Europe’s most wanted fugitives.
His face appears on the Europol website as South Wales Police continue to work with the National Crime Agency and international law enforcement agencies to trace the 42-year-old and return him to the UK.
He is wanted in connection over the murder 10 years ago yesterday of Aamir Siddiqi in Cardiff.
Seventeen-year-old Aamir was brutally murdered at his family home in Roath on the afternoon of Sunday, April 11, 2010 while waiting for his Quran teacher.
In February 2013 Ben Hope and Jason Richards were convicted of the murder at Swansea Crown Court.
They were sentenced to life with a minimum of 40 years in prison each. During the case it was said the killing had been a tragic case of mistaken identity, and it was alleged that Hope and Richards had been paid £1,000 to carry out a “hit” on a father-of-four who lived in a neighbouring street.
Before the trial even began police had been looking for Mohammed Ali Ege, a businessman from the Riverside area of Cardiff.
Crimewatch and Interpol appeals were issued but Ege left the country. He is believed to have fled the UK to France on a cross-Channel ferry – wearing a wig to cover his distinctive shaven head.
It is believed that from France he went to Spain, Morocco, Senegal, Nepal, and Bahrain before arriving in India.
While on the run Ege was allegedly using a number of false identities and even made several trips overseas using his aliases.
He was arrested in India in October 2011 and was awaiting extradition when, on April 12, 2017, he managed to escape while out of prison for a court hearing.
Detective Inspector Stuart Wales, of the South Wales Police Major Crime Investigations Team, was on duty at Cathays Police Station on the day of the murder. He was also one of the first officers at the scene.
He said: “I recall my police radio crackling into life and it was quite obvious from transmissions over the air from uniform colleagues, from the tone of their voice, that they were dealing with something clearly way above what they would normally deal with, even on 999 calls.
“Aamir was undoubtedly a very promising young man, full of huge amounts of potential.
“A decade may have passed, but until Mohammed Ali Ege is located and brought back to the UK, this matter will not go away for South Wales Police.
“Mr Ege now features among 42 other wanted individuals on the Europol website.
“He must be constantly looking over his shoulder, and our determination to resolve this matter has never diminished.
“We would ask anyone who has information about his whereabouts to please get in touch – not just for us but more importantly for Aamir’s family, who have always acted with such dignity throughout their 10-year ordeal.”
The Europol appeal says Ege “is believed to travel extensively with the use of false documentation and may have changed his appearance”. It also lists a range of aliases he uses, including Ahmed Aheris, Ahmed Ali, Kalid Ali, Muhammed Ali, Tarik Mohamed Ali, Ali Mohammed, and Tarik Ali Mohammed.
Anybody with information is urged to provide information by using the UK Police Major Incident Public Reporting Site https://mipp. police.uk/operation/62SWP17A31PO1 Or via the Europol site https:// eumostwanted.eu/#/egemohammed-ali
Alternatively please contact police on 101 quoting reference 1700150924 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.