FAKE KURD DIPLOMAT UNMASKED IN NICE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18057, 18 January 1927, Page 1

FAKE KURD DIPLOMAT UNMASKED IN NICE.

WAS ONLY A MASQUERADING TURK, OWNING A FEW SHILLINGS ONLY. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.—Aus. and N.Z. Cable Assn. (Received January 18, 9.5 a.m.) PARIS, January 17. For a month Nice has been dazzled by a handsome young man dressed in khaki uniform and red fez and wearing the decoration of the Legion of Honour. He is staying in a luxurious flat as the Prince of Kurdistan. He claimed to be the direct descendant of Haroun al Rachid, of “Arabian Nights” fame. He was usually surrounded hy women admirers, but the police spoilt, his triumphs. They visited his flat' arid found that he was a Turk, who had been deported from England. Switzerland and the United States, and who had served a term of imprisonment in Germany. He had an elaborate scaled document authorising him to negotiate on behalf of Kurdistan, and a list of addresses of wealthy Englishmen and Americans, from whom he donbtless intended to borrow, and also large collections of the insignia of many Orders. When arrested he had only a few shillings in his possession. He was illegally wearing the decorations.