Fingerprints prove that accused is US fugitive, court hears

A MAN at the centre of an extradition row has been locked up after prosecutors alleged his fingerprints prove that he is a US fugitive.

The accused, who claims his name is Arthur Knight, appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday charged with behaving in a threatening or abusive manner towards health staff.

The alleged incident is said to have occurred at a ward in Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth University Hospital on Tuesday.

The charge claims he acted in an aggressive manner towards consultant Evelyn Millar and senior charge nurse Yasmin Bagli. He is also said to have shouted and sworn at them, lunged at them and pursued them.

The man – who was wearing an oxyRossi.’ gen mask and in a wheelchair – pleasded not guilty to the single charge. A trial was fixed for August 19. However, his bail application was denied.

Sheriff Gerard MacMillan said there was a ‘substantial risk’ the accused may abscond.

Court papers allege that as well as Knight, the man, who lives in Glasgow, goes by various other names.

He is also stated to be on bail from Edinburgh Sheriff Appeal Court from February 4 this year.

Opposing bail, prosecutor Julie Clark said: ‘He appears today as Arthur Knight but has previously been identified by medical professionals and civilians as Nicholas Following her comments, the accused was heard shouting from the dock: ‘That’s not true.’

Miss Clark added: ‘He has at least ten aliases and is known in the US as Nicholas Rossi or Alahverdian and speaks in an American accent.

‘He is known by his wife’s family as Nicholas Brown and speaks in an Irish accent.

‘He is recorded at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital as Arthur Winston Brown and identified himself on Tuesday as Arthur Knight and speaks in an English accent.

‘Fingerprints taken when he was arrested for this matter were confirmed to be Nicholas Rossi.’

Despite the man appearing in court with an oxygen tank and mask, Miss Clark said: ‘The Crown have received a number of medical reports from doctors involved in his care which state there is no concern related to his lungs. The description of seizures given by those who have witnessed them... [they] were satisfied they were otherwise faked.

‘Extensive inquiries established that he travelled to Dublin from the USA in 2017 but there was no record of him entering the UK. He was involved in a relationship with a UK national. He then found another relationship and married in February 2020 using the name Nicholas Brown, which is on the marriage certificate.

‘It is not known how he made it to Scotland but he was in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital being treated for Covid.’

Munawar Ali, defending, said that his client was a first offender who was not able to attend two hearings because of ill-health.

‘He has at least ten aliases’