A former British soldier, who made headlines last year for his daring escape from a London prison, has been found guilty of espionage for Iran. The 23-year-old Daniel Khalife was convicted by a jury despite his claims of attempting to work as a double agent to assist British security agencies. Prosecutors dismissed his defense as a 'cynical game.'
Although Khalife was cleared of a bomb hoax charge, evidence presented during the trial revealed his clandestine activities. He reached out to an intermediary associated with Iran via Facebook, offering to serve as an undercover agent within the British Army for over 25 years.
The Crown Prosecution Service disclosed that Khalife had obtained and shared both fake and authentic documents, including sensitive information and personal details of special forces soldiers. He received payment for his actions and even traveled to Turkey as part of his illicit activities.
Bethan David from the CPS stated, 'He surreptitiously sought out and obtained copies of secret and sensitive information, which he knew were protected, and passed these on to individuals he believed to be acting on behalf of the Iranian state.'
Khalife's lawyer described his client's espionage plot as more akin to 'Scooby-Doo' than James Bond, suggesting it bordered on the slapstick. Khalife was initially arrested in January 2022 at an English barracks, where he disclosed receiving funds from Iranian handlers concealed in a dog waste bag.
In a daring escape reminiscent of a Hollywood movie, Khalife managed to flee Wandsworth Prison in September 2023 by disguising himself as a chef and attaching himself to the underside of a delivery van. During his brief time on the run, he attempted to contact his handlers using the message 'I wait' via Telegram but was apprehended three days later.
Khalife is set to be sentenced early next year for his espionage activities, which have raised concerns about national security and the potential threats posed by individuals engaging in such covert operations.
