In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Hafiz Rahman, 67, remains a high-profile fugitive nearly ten years after skipping bail to avoid an 11-and-a-half-year prison sentence. On appearing at Wolverhampton Crown Court in October 2016, the defendant—of Ballard Road, Netherton—was found guilty in his absence of five counts of indecent assault against two children. It was reported that the abuse took place at Queens Cross Mosque in Cradley Heath during the 1980s, where Rahman was tasked with leading Koran classes.
The investigation established that Rahman targeted his victims, aged between seven and eleven, on an almost daily basis. West Midlands Police reported that Rahman skipped bail by boarding a flight to Bangladesh on 8 October 2016, just as officials were preparing to summon him for sentencing. The prosecution reported that Rahman used a fake passport to flee the country, claiming he was “too ill” to attend the final days of his trial. Despite an “all ports warning” placed on the Police National Computer, Rahman successfully escaped the UK before he could be taken into custody.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Rahman’s actions represented a severe betrayal of trust within a religious and educational setting. Wolverhampton Crown Court heard that one of the victims, Nabila Sharma, came forward in 2012, which launched the four-year investigation leading to his conviction. The investigation established that Rahman had been arrested in 2014 and denied all offences, but the jury found the evidence of “daily abuse” between 1984 and 1987 to be overwhelming.
The Sentencing Judge in 2016 noted the “horrific” nature of the offences and handed down the 11.5-year term to reflect the prolonged suffering of the victims. For his actions in Cradley Heath, Rahman was sentenced in his absence, but his escape has left the survivors without full closure. The judge noted that the court had originally ruled Rahman was not a flight risk, a decision that allowed the “paedophile imam” to flee to South Asia before his custodial term could begin.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Hafiz Rahman is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 11 years and 6 months (Sentenced October 2016).
- Current Status: Wanted / Fugitive (Believed to be in Bangladesh).
- Warrant Status: Active warrant for arrest and absconding.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- Judicial Oversight: Convicted at Wolverhampton Crown Court following a West Midlands Police investigation.
- Criminal Record: Indecent assault of a child (5 counts).
- Origin: Ballard Road, Netherton, West Midlands.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Rahman is currently subject to an international manhunt and is listed as a priority fugitive for the West Midlands Police. Due to the nature of his conduct in Cradley Heath, which involved the systematic abuse of young girls under the guise of religious tuition, his apprehension remains a maximum priority. Authorities state that if Rahman is ever extradited or returns to the UK, he will face immediate imprisonment and additional time for his 2016 bail breach and the use of a fraudulent passport.
As a convicted sex offender, Rahman remains on the Sex Offenders Register for life. Authorities state that his history of predatory behaviour in the West Midlands and his sophisticated escape to Bangladesh necessitate permanent vigilance by international enforcement agencies. Any sighting or information regarding Rahman’s location in South Asia is regularly reviewed by the Public Protection Unit to ensure that this “twisted” predator is eventually brought back to face his 11-year prison sentence.
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