An American fugitive who is believed to have pretended his death to avoid a rape charge is facing extradition after being arrested at a Glasgow hospital.
Nicolas Rossi, 34, was wanted by Interpol in 2008 in connection with an alleged sexual assault in Utah, US.
He was arrested on 13 December at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, using the alias Arthur Knight, after he was admitted with the coronavirus.
Utah prosecutors said the alleged fugitive “ran the country to evade prosecution” and “attempted to trick investigators and state legislators in other states into believing he was dead”. They are now seeking his extradition back to Utah.
Utah County Attorney David Levitt said: “We have the full confidence and support of the Scottish Police on this matter.” “Ultimately, the decision regarding bail is left to the international courts until Mr Rossi is extradited to the United States.”
Police Scotland said the fugitive was arrested last month in Glasgow in connection with an international arrest warrant.
A spokesman said: “A report was submitted to the procurator Fiscal.”
Rossi used several nicknames while running, including Nicholas Alhawardian, Nicolas Alhawardian Rossi, Nicholas Edward Rossi, Nicolas Alhawardian-Rossi, Nick Allen, Nicholas Brown, Arthur Brown and Arthur Knight.
In 2020 it was reported by several media outlets that Nicolas Alhawardian died of non-Hodgkin lymphoma on 29 February 2020. The website EverLoved.com claimed that his body was cremated while his ashes were believed to be scattered at sea.
An online obituary read: “Nicholas Alhawardian’s fight for life ends on February 29, 2020.
“The children and families in the care of the Rhode Island Department of Children’s Youth and Families (DCYF) for whom they inspired and led through turbulent government crimes have lost a warrior who fought on the front lines for two decades.”
Rossi used the surname while living in the US state of Rhode Island and was involved in local politics, it is reported.
It is understood that the FBI also had a warrant for his arrest on charges of letting his foster father take out credit cards in his name and running up more than $200,000 in debt, according to BBC News.
The Utah rape allegation came as part of a review of historic sexual assault cases where DNA evidence kits were not tested.