1 month ago
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A erstwhile British worker accused of spying for Iran and escaping from situation made archetypal interaction with an Iranian quality serviceman by sending him a Facebook message, a proceedings has heard.
Daniel Khalife, 23, is connected proceedings connected charges of collecting delicate subject accusation for Iran.
Woolwich Crown Court heard Mr Khalife recovered Hamed Ghashgavi, a antheral connected to Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), connected the societal media tract aft speechmaking a quality communicative astir him being sanctioned by the US.
Mr Khalife denies each the charges.
Speaking astir his archetypal interaction with Mr Ghashgavi, Mr Khalife told officers helium "found him connected Facebook and made interaction with him."
The tribunal heard that arsenic his narration with Mr Ghashgavi and different Iranian contacts developed, Mr Khalife was told to question to a northbound London parkland to cod money.
At the park, Mr Khalife saw 4 of the "creepiest, scariest guys I've ever seen" successful a car - who helium believed were connected to the IRGC - and collected £1,500 near successful a canine poo bag.
Mr Khalife took a representation of the bag, with the wealth inside, and sent it to his Iranian contacts who wanted impervious that helium had received it, the tribunal heard.
The erstwhile worker aboriginal told constabulary that helium had produced a fig of "fake documents" to assistance person the Iranians to spot him, Woolwich Crown Court heard.
"Things started to get serious," helium told officers, "they yet started to judge what I was saying."
Police recovered a fig of "completely fake" documents successful Mr Khalife's country astatine MoD Stafford erstwhile helium was arrested successful January 2022, the assemblage heard.
The fabricated documents included a missive from erstwhile Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to the caput of MI6 with a "set of orders... successful regards to Iran", and different with a Ministry of Defence header called "Iran's atomic ambitions", jurors were told.
Mr Khalife told his contacts helium was successful "some Gucci unit" successful the army, the tribunal heard.
He aboriginal created a fake email relationship and contacted MI6, claiming helium wanted to enactment arsenic a "double agent", the jury was antecedently told. In a connection to MI6 nether a mendacious name, Mr Khalife said helium had been asked to supply the Iranian authorities with accusation and had sent them a fake papers for which they paid $2,000 (£1,500) near successful a canine poo bag.
Mr Khalife, who was brought up successful Kingston, south-west London by his Iranian-born mother, joined the Army successful September 2018, 2 weeks earlier his 17th birthday, the assemblage heard.
After completing a 23-week people astatine the Army Foundation College successful Harrogate, North Yorkshire, helium joined the Royal Corps of Signals which provides communications, IT and cyber support.
The tribunal antecedently heard that Mr Khalife underwent and passed information clearance earlier starting his specializer grooming successful 2019, and completed the year-long people successful aboriginal 2020.
He was past posted to the 16th Signal Regiment successful Stafford, which delivers blase integer connection and outer services to the army.
Mr Khalife aboriginal absconded from his barracks successful January 2023 aft being released connected bail.
He is alleged to person escaped from HMP Wandsworth successful southbound London portion connected remand connected panic and espionage charges by strapping himself to the underside of a nutrient transportation lorry connected 6 September 2023.
He was arrested connected a canal towpath successful westbound London 3 days later.
The proceedings continues.
Additional reporting by PA Media.
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