Ex-Saddam guard 'on the run' in NZ

One of Saddam Hussein's former bodyguards is thought to be on the run in Wellington after allegedly defrauding an Auckland doctor of $129,500.

Isaac Meti Yosef Jago, 41, has disappeared from Auckland after allegedly fooling Iraqi doctor Haider Jasim and his wife into handing over a bank cheque to buy a luxury Mercedes.

In May, Mr Jago was outed by NZ First leader Winston Peters as a former member of Saddam Hussein's palace guard.

Dr Jasim did not know Mr Jago personally but did not think to question the sale, because all the paperwork and receipts were from car dealers Coutts.

"But having said that I've done everything possible to protect myself."

Dr Jasim and his wife Dhuha Naji were approached by Mr Jago offering an exclusive deal on a new S500 Mercedes from Auckland luxury car dealer Coutts Cars. After claiming he could get a $55,000 discount on the car, Mr Jago took the couple to the dealer twice and showed them the car with Coutts Cars salesman Paul Norfolk.

Arriving at Dr Jasim's home with a legitimate purchase agreement and receipt book bearing Coutts Cars Ltd letterhead, Mr Jago left with a bank cheque for $129,500 made out to Coutts Car Services, the name he specified. Dr Jasim was given a receipt and an agreement for sale of the car with Coutts Cars' name and stamp on it.

Mr Norfolk said he had been instructed by his employer to make no comment but had made a statement to police about the incident.

Dr Jasim said Mr Norfolk had since admitted giving Mr Jago blank contracts to secure the car sale. "We're trying our best to contact Coutts but they are declining any communication," Dr Jasim said.

A private detective employed by the couple found Mr Jago had opened a Kiwibank account under the name Coutts Car Services, and had banked the cheque and then withdrawn all the money two days later.

Mr Jago's landlord said he left for Wellington two weeks ago. Three men had collected his furniture. He has not answered his cellphone since then.

Dr Jasim said the loss of five years' savings was devastating and he called for the New Zealand and Iraqi communities to help find Mr Jago.

"What would devastate me more is if we failed to locate such a criminal and let him move on to other crimes.

"There is not any doubt he moves from one (fraud) to another."

Dr Jasim said Mr Jago's reputation was of targeting people who could not afford to sue him and he used loopholes in the law to get away with his crimes. "He's quite dangerous, but he's very clever, he is getting more rich and more serious."

- nzpa