People trafficker tried to pay off the families of 27 migrants who drowned in Channel

People trafficker tried to pay off the families of 27 migrants who drowned in Channel as they headed to UK, court hears

  • Harem Ahmed Abwbaker is facing manslaughter charges over migrant deaths
  • He offered victims’ families money to stay silent, a court heard yesterday
  • After tragedy Abwbaker, 32, allegedly fled to Britain to claim asylum himself

A man facing manslaughter charges over the deaths of 27 Channel migrants offered the victims’ families money to stay silent, a court heard yesterday.

After the tragedy, Harem Ahmed Abwbaker allegedly fled to Britain to claim asylum himself – and was put up in a hotel at taxpayers’ expense.

The 32-year-old is said to be the ‘right-hand man’ of a people trafficking crimelord thought to have organised the crossing last November.

Two days after the deadly trip – in which a seven-year-old girl was among the victims – Abwbaker travelled to Germany. 

In Cuffs: Defendant after arrest

Harem Ahmed Abwbaker, 32, (pictured left in court yesterday and right after arrest) is facing manslaughter charges over the deaths of 27 Channel migrants

He later arrived in the UK and claimed asylum.

The alleged trafficker was held by the National Crime Agency (NCA), dubbed Britain’s ‘FBI’, in a pre-dawn raid at the Ramada hotel in Chelmsford on Tuesday.

The hotel has been used by the Home Office to house Channel migrants since last year and remains block-booked until June.

An NCA spokesman said Abwbaker is facing multiple manslaughter charges in France as well as facilitating illegal immigration. 

An extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court yesterday heard families of the dead identified Abwbaker as the ‘right-hand man’ of the head of the criminal gang which smuggled people across the Channel between 2018 and June 2022.

Prosecutor Michael McHardy said: ‘This person had been in contact with the victims’ families after the events and had offered them money to stay silent.’

Victims had each paid £2,700 for the journey and Abwbaker was responsible for getting them on to the boat, the court was told.

It then heard that Abwbaker’s phone was detected at the site of the dinghy launch in northern France – and then in Germany two days later. 

Mr McHardy described the vessel as ‘totally unsuitable’ because of a lack of navigation and life-saving equipment.

Abwbaker gave his address as the Ramada hotel, Cheltenham. His nationality was not given but he spoke through a Kurdish-Sorani interpreter. 

It is understood he applied for asylum in Britain earlier this year and claimed he arrived in the back of a lorry.

He refused to consent to extradition and was remanded in custody. A full hearing is due to take place on April 3.

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