Accused conman loves life on run
FALSE Arab prince and alleged conman Abdelkarim Serhani, who fled Australia while on bail over a $42,000 fraud at Hamilton Island, is back living the high life at resorts overseas.
Taunting Australian authorities with his "Catch me if you can," catchphrase Mr Serhani has sent The Cairns Post photos of himself living in luxury at a top-dollar Sheraton hotel in Indonesia and claims he has now moved on to New Zealand.
But not before the 26-year-old Frenchman wore out his welcome in Indonesia.
Authorities there say he is wanted in connection with $400 stolen from a fellow Frenchman in Surabaya, along with $2000 and a mobile phone taken from the skipper of a yacht on which the "prince" fled Australia to Bali.
Mr Serhani had no passport for the yacht trip, after Whitsundays CIB officers earlier confiscated it following his being charged with scamming $42,000 of free accommodation, meals, drinks - including $20,000 worth of champagne - helicopter flights and security guards at Hamilton Island.
Mr Serhani recently sent cairns.com.au a video from his luxury hideout demanding the release of a Japanese woman who is co-charged with his $42,000 fraud.
He claims she is innocent and in the video taunts authorities by saying: "I'm the guilty one - if you want me, catch me if you can."
When in contact with The Cairns Post, Mr Serhani has used a new mobile phone number every two to three days.
The latest number was believed to have originated in Papua New Guinea.
He is wanted by police in Australia for other offences too.
He is also charged with a $3000 fraud at Airlie Beach, drink-driving and offences in Cairns, including the theft of Dom Perignon champagne worth $600.
But he fled on the yacht to Bali when released on bail and then failed to appear in Proserpine Magistrates' Court in late July, claiming he had two broken legs.
Previously in Europe he had reportedly talked his way into using palaces, Ferraris, limousines and bodyguards and wining and dining beautiful women.
The fake prince has received worldwide celebrity status through international newspapers for his antics since 2007.
He claims to be a member of the Saudi Arabian royal family and describes his antics as a joke hatched after watching the Eddie Murphy movie Coming to America.
Indonesian authorities have confirmed the alleged conman unsuccessfully applied for a new passport in Bali and Surabaya after it was confiscated in Australia - but also said he had requested a chauffeur drive him to an Indonesian airport.
Interpol have refused to comment but are believed to be tracking the alleged conman after Australian authorities issued an arrest warrant.
"I am afraid that Interpol is not in a position to comment on Mr Abdelkarim Serhani," a spokesman for Interpol said.
Among his antics, Mr Serhani has claimed to be in film deals for a television commercial for adidas, reality TV and a movie and says he will next pose as a financial planner or pilot.
Prince's holiday diary:
- Prince's video: Catch me if you can!
- Postcards of a party prince
- Prince misses court hearing
- Accused conman hides in Cairns
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Catch me if you can: Abdelkarim Serhani enjoys the sun and pool at a Sheraton hotel in Indonesia, while on the run from police in Australia.
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