BUCHAREST, Romania — A notorious French criminal, who gained infamy for a violent prison breakout last year, appeared before a Romanian court on Sunday after a lengthy nine-month international manhunt that led to his arrest in Bucharest.
Mohamed Amra, attempting to alter his appearance with dyed red hair, displayed a confident grin as he was escorted by law enforcement in and out of the courthouse, attracting attention from the public and media alike.
Alongside Amra’s arrest, Romanian authorities apprehended ten individuals believed to have been involved in planning and facilitating his escape, as well as aiding him in evading capture while he was on the run, according to statements from Paris Prosecutor Laure Beccuau.
Amra’s escape from a prison convoy in Normandy last May resulted in the tragic deaths of two guards, prompting Interpol to issue an alert for his arrest. French law enforcement agencies promptly informed their counterparts in various countries once they suspected Amra had crossed French borders, culminating in his identification and arrest by Romanian police near a shopping area on Saturday.
The Romanian judicial system will now determine whether Amra will be extradited to face charges in France.
Despite altering his hair, authorities successfully identified Amra through facial recognition technology and fingerprint analysis, as confirmed by the prosecutor.
Known by the moniker “The Fly,” the 30-year-old Amra had been sentenced for burglary in the town of Evreux, Normandy. He was also under investigation for a series of serious crimes, including an attempted organized murder and a deadly kidnapping, as reported by prosecutors.
Moreover, the Paris prosecutor indicated that Amra has established ties with organized crime groups in Marseille and is suspected of leading a drug trafficking operation, reflecting his deep involvement in criminal activities.
