Accused conman hides in Cairns
A "false Arab prince" accused of conning his way around the world, taking beautiful women and cars along for the ride, has made his way to Cairns.
The 26-year-old was charged with a $42,000 fraud after allegedly living the high life on Hamilton Island for 16 days and has since holed up in Cairns hostels.
Talking his way into using palaces, Ferraris, limousines and bodyguards and wining and dining beautiful women, Abdelkarim Serhani has received worldwide celebrity status through international newspapers for his antics.
He claims to be a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family.
He was even signed up for a $105,000 contract for a reality television show in Europe.
Reports say the charmer is a good actor and originally started his antics as a joke after watching the Eddie Murphy movie Coming to America.
But the Frenchman, who says he once was training to be a police officer before studying in Sydney, has now also been charged with a further $3000 fraud at Airlie Beach and drink-driving.
His passport has been confiscated but the man hasn't been given bail reporting conditions and he is believed to have been staying in Cairns with other French tourists earlier this month, who then contacted police.
- Have you spotted "Prince Charming"? Let us know by posting a comment at bottom of this page.
A man matching Mr Serhani's description has been sought in Cairns in relation to two bottles of Dom Perignon, worth $600, disappearing from a bottleshop in Shields St owned by the Crown Hotel.
Crown Hotel manager Brett Jeffery said: "He said he was on a yacht and staying at the Hilton."
"He seemed quite flamboyant.
"(But) how did this guy even get let into the country? All we had to do was Google his name."
International media reports translated by Far Northern French teacher May Morin said he has been charged over allegedly ripping off a Japanese women by using the 24-year-old’s card without her knowledge.
The reports say he stayed in a palace in Brussels and hired expensive cars, chauffeurs and bodyguards without paying
for them.
Whitsunday CIB Det Sen-Constable Nicholas Williams said Mr Serhani was charged in May with fraud, dishonesty and drink-driving.
He refused to be interviewed by police and has had his court case adjourned to July 27 in the Proserpine Magistrates' Court.
"He hasn't been given (bail) reporting conditions. However, he is a student in Sydney," he said.
Anyone with information should contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
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Fake prince: Abdelkarim Serhani, a "false Arab prince” accused of conning his way around the world, taking beautiful women and cars along for the ride, has made his way to Cairns. Digitally altered image: SEAN THOMAS
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