Courts / Dublin / Report
Notorious on-the-run UK conwoman is refused bail
Summary
Farah Damji, 53, a former conwoman and daughter of a wealthy property tycoon, was denied bail in Ireland while her extradition case proceeds. Damji fled to Ireland in February 2020 during a trial in which she was convicted in her absence by Southwark Crown Court for breaching a restraining order in 2018. She applied for bail, claiming she had been working as an artist and had no intention of remaining in Ireland permanently. Her counsel supplied medical documents and emails to support her claim, and samples of her artwork were presented. Judge Tony Hunt rejected bail, citing Damji's high risk of absconding, her history of using false documents and aliases, and her previous flight from the UK. He noted that a European Arrest Warrant does not presume bail and that Damji's financial situation was opaque. The judge scheduled her extradition hearing for 21 October. The decision was based solely on the risk assessment and the facts presented in the court.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Notorious on-the-run UK conwoman is refused bail. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted
When:
- June 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- October 21 Incident
- August 17 Incident
- 2020-09-03 Publication
Why: The judge said that because she had absconded from the authority seeking her and from the same trial that convicted her, it "gives rise to a very high probability that the same situation may be faced again". CNI source report
Case subjects
Applicant
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; At a previous hearing, Ms Damji said that her delay in return to the UK had extenuating circumstances and that she was in litigation with that State over alleged unlawful detention.
Places mentioned
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