DeKalb man Saladin Ghani sneaks away during fraud trial, found not guilty

Dekalb County police say a man facing 20 years in prison sneaked out during his fraud trial, but the jury still found him not guilty.

Saladin Ghani told his lawyer that he needed a bathroom break halfway through his trial for identity fraud.

When Ghani failed to retu back to his trial after 15 minutes, the judge asked his attoey Scott Smith to go find the defendant

”I ran out into the hallway, and went into the bathroom at the courthouse. We were on the 5^th floor, and Sal wasn’t in the bathroom, Smith said.

Lawyer Looking For Escaped Client To Inform Him Of Not-Guilty Verdict

Smith texted his client and said, ”You cannot leave in the middle of a trial. Come back, to which Ghani replied, ”I’m scared that I’m going to prison.

Smith said Ghani's last bit of communication was, "I'm an innocent man." 

The judge issued a warrant for escape and the trial resumed without him.

During the trial, Ghani had insisted he was framed for stealing $7,000 from a neighbor. His lawyer called witnesses to raise reasonable doubt. Prosecutors pointed to the defendant’s empty chair as admission of guilt.

But when the decision came down, Ghani was long gone. The jury found him not guilty and the judge rescinded the bench warrant for escape.

Smith is desperate to find him and let him know he no longer needs to run.

”The worrisome part for me as his lawyer is, he doesn’t know this, Smith said. ”I can’t get in touch with him to let him know you’re a free man.