A Syrian fugitive who attempted to murder a man with a pickaxe was found living in a UK council house while claiming £2,000 a month in benefits. Mohamad Agha, 51, was wanted in Romania for the attack, which left his victim unconscious for 25 days.
Attack and Flight
Westminster Magistrates' Court heard how Agha struck a man in the head with a pickaxe handle after the victim parked near his home in Bucium, Romania. The victim, Galea Andrei Calin, was left unconscious after the attack on August 26, 2020, and spent 25 days in hospital.
After being charged with attempted murder, Agha fled to the UK, where it has now been revealed that British taxpayers funded most of his time evading justice.
Conviction and Arrest
Agha was convicted to four years in a Romanian jail. He became the subject of a European Arrest Warrant after unsuccessfully challenging his conviction in March 2023. He was eventually arrested by the National Crime Agency's extradition unit on April 10, 2025.
The court heard how Agha met his wife, Ramona, in Romania in 2017, and the couple now have two daughters, aged four and two, both born in the UK. He had previously lived in Germany, Holland, and Belgium after leaving Syria.
Claims of Leave to Remain
Agha claimed the Home Office had granted him five years' leave to remain in the UK, but the court was not told when this permission was given. They were therefore unable to determine when it was due to expire or on what basis it had been approved.
Benefits and Council Housing
It has now been revealed how he was living in UK council accommodation and claiming benefits at the expense of the taxpayer. His wife, 44, told the court: "We decided to come to the UK so we could have a better life for our future children. I didn't have a good life in Romania. It's hard to make a living there, so we decided to move to the UK."
She added: "Mohammed was a lorry driver. I do not have a job. I was a carer for Mohammed after he had an accident where he slipped on some ice. I think this happened in 2023. He injured his back very badly. We barely make do on universal credit. We get between £1,600 and £2,000. We are struggling financially. Before Mohammed went to prison, he was classified as disabled and was receiving Personal Independence Payments (PIP). He received about £500 every month."
Judge's Ruling
District Judge John Zani wrote in his judgment: "Until his arrest and remand by this court, he had been living with his wife and their two young children in council accommodation. They are said to be a close family and both the requested person (RP) and his wife express concerns about the adverse effect that extradition will have on them all."
He added: "The wife is said to be struggling financially and emotionally since he has been remanded in custody. Ramona says that she receives between £1,600 and £2,000 per month by way of UK state benefits. This is not an insubstantial amount."
Judge Zani continued: "In my opinion, the criminal conduct set out in the arrest warrant is very serious. It is appreciated that there will be hardship caused to the RP and to his wife and their children. However, as counsel will be aware, that of itself is not sufficient to prevent an order for extradition from being made."
The court confirmed that Agha was extradited to Romania on July 30.
