Luxury lifestyle of fugitive jailed for £2.4m scam
Fury at fraudster’s online gloating
Authorities know where he is but have not tried to bring him back to Britain to serve his sentence.
The Crown Prosecution Service is reportedly awaiting the outcome of Raja’s appeal over his conviction and sentencing. Victim Dennis Smith, 89, who lost £250,000, said: ‘The way Raja is living now makes you sick. Police should be pursuing him to wipe the smile off of his face.’
In January last year, Raja was sentenced to eight years after being found guilty for his part in mis-selling carbon credits to 130 victims. He did not turn up to his trial at London’s Southwark Crown Court. His social media posts suggest he fled as early as November 2017.
Just three days after sentencing, he posted pictures of himself at a £10,000-a-night Maldives resort.
He captioned one: ‘I’m living life right now man and this is what I’ll do till it’s over.’
He has continued to taunt victims and the authorities with photos of his glamorous life in Dubai, where he has set
‘Wipe the smile off his face’
up a consultancy firm. His Instagram profile, now taken down, shows him next to a red Ferrari, wearing Gucci, and at exclusive hotels.
During his trial, Raja and four accomplices were said to have persuaded wealthy people over the age of 50 to hand over their life savings.
The scam involved convincing investors to buy carbon credits – certificates that allow an organisation to emit one ton of carbon dioxide. They were sold for £6.50 each – 25 times their market value – and could not even be traded.
Raja was arrested in 2013 but it was years before his trial made it to court and he allegedly continued his scams.
A City of London Police spokesman said: ‘Sami Raja is appealing his convictions and sentence. Issues regarding extradition are a matter for the Crown Prosecution Service.’ The CPS said it did not comment on ongoing cases.