Police manhunt for convicted child trafficker after bail

A nationwide manhunt is underway for a convicted child sex trafficker who vanished after being granted bail and failed to appear for his trial. Sharam Muhamadi, 21, was found guilty in his absence on Tuesday, June 9, at Sheffield Crown Court on two counts of arranging or facilitating travel with a view to exploitation. He was last seen in Birmingham on May 18, the day his trial began, and has not been located since.

Muhamadi had been held in custody after being charged but was released on bail following an application by his defence team at the start of the trial. South Yorkshire Police stated that officers began searching for him immediately after he failed to appear in court but were prohibited from making a public appeal until the trial concluded due to reporting restrictions. Judge Sarah Wright lifted those restrictions following the verdicts.

Extensive police inquiries have established that Muhamadi, who is originally from Iran and entered the UK as an unaccompanied asylum seeker in 2021, has links to the West Midlands. He traveled by train to Birmingham New Street Station between Saturday, May 16, and Monday, May 18. The last confirmed sighting was at approximately 9 p.m....