Amir Khan, a former boxing world champion, was robbed at gunpoint of his diamond-encrusted watch worth £72,000 while he was leaving a restaurant with his wife Faryal Makhdoom and a
friend Omar Khalid at the Sahara Grill in Leyton, east London. The incident occurred on April 18th, 2022. A court in London heard that an armed robber ran at Khan and yelled at him to remove his watch. The robbers have been identified as Ahmed Bana, Nurul Amin, and Ismail Mohammed, all aged 25, who deny conspiracy to commit robbery. Dante Campbell, 21, has previously admitted to being the gunman.
CCTV footage played to jurors at Snaresbrook Crown Court revealed the couple dining at the restaurant before the robbery. Amin and Mohammed were said to be 'spotters' who sat at a table a few feet away from the couple and Khalid in the eatery. Mohammed was seen taking a phone call at one stage, with records suggesting it was from Bana. As the Khans left the restaurant, Amir stopped to greet some people outside the restaurant. CCTV shows the former light-welterweight world champion leaving the restaurant and the moment the gunman ran at him.
According to prosecutor Philip Evans, KC, 'You can see Campbell waving a gun at Mr. Khan and his wife. The reason for dealing with the CCTV in such detail is that it forms the absolute center of the evidence in this case. The robbery is caught on it. A number of details are caught on it.'
Bana, of Hale Gardens, Tottenham, Amin, of Cavendish Road, Finsbury Park, and Mohammed, of Edmonton, all deny conspiracy to commit robbery. Bana also denies having an imitation firearm. Campbell, of Hornsey, all north London, earlier admitted possessing an imitation firearm. The former boxer's watch was specially commissioned and has not been recovered.
Amir Khan has warned that gun crime is on the rise in the UK and wants more young people to be educated on the issue. He also expressed his gratitude towards the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, for his support during the case. Amir Khan and Faryal Makhdoom got married in New York in 2013 and have three children.
The trial continues with Amir Khan expected to give evidence tomorrow. Photo by Chamber of Fear, Wikimedia commons.