A MAN jailed for extortion after the unravelling of a conspiracy by Clare woman Sharon Collins to have her wealthy partner and his two sons killed, is facing extradition back to the US.
Egyptian-born Essam Eid (55) was sentenced to six years’ imprisonment in November 2008 for demanding €100,000 from the son of wealthy businessman PJ Howard in exchange for not carrying out a contract to kill him, his brother and their father on September 26th, 2006.
He was also convicted of handling certain items stolen from the Howard family business in Westgate Business Park, Ennis, after a break-in.
His co-accused, Sharon Collins, from Ennis, Co Clare, who created the internet alias “Lying Eyes”, was jailed for six years for soliciting a hit man to kill Mr Howard and his two sons, Robert and Niall, and for conspiring to kill the three men.
Sitting at the Courts of Criminal Justice, the High Court heard yesterday that Eid is wanted by authorities in the US to face charges relating to conspiracy with his former partner to extort money from a woman and intent to extort money with a threat to kill.
The incidents are alleged to have happened on or about September 22nd, 2006, in Los Angeles.
Eid, dressed in a dark suit with a mulberry tie and wearing glasses, was arrested by extradition gardaí at the High Court shortly before the brief hearing.
Garda Sgt Seán Fallon told Mr Justice Gareth Sheehan that, when asked if he knew the reason for the issuing of an extradition warrant against him, Eid replied “no comment”.
Asked if he on occasion went by the alias “Tony Luciano”, Garda Sgt Fallon told the court that Eid responded “So they say”.
There was no application for bail and Eid was remanded in custody to Cloverhill Prison. He will reappear before the court next Wednesday.