The RCMP has promised an update Monday on the investigation into a high-profile fugitive — an accused B.C. gangster who escaped from prison and has been on the run for more than three years.
Rabih “Robby” Alkhalil broke out of the North Fraser Pretrial Centre in Port Coquitlam in July 2022 with the help of two men posing as contractors. Investigators have been on his trail ever since.
For the past two years, Alkhalil has been on Canada’s Bolo 25 Most Wanted list with the reward for information leading to an arrest as high as $250,000.
As of Monday morning, $50,000 was being offered to potential tipsters.
“Rabih Alkhalil is an extremely dangerous individual,” said Bolo program director Max Langlois, when announcing the $25,000 reward in October 2022.
“He has a lengthy criminal record, he is a twice convicted murderer, he has extensive ties to organized crime, and INTERPOL has issued a Red Notice for him.”
Alkhalil escaped from the pretrial facility just before a first-degree murder trial was set to wrap up.
He was found guilty in absentia, adding to previous murder and conspiracy to commit murder convictions tied to organized crime.
There are multiple reports that Alkhalil has been arrested in Qatar and that the RCMP will be attempting to bring him back to Canada.
The RCMP has scheduled a new conference for 1 p.m. Monday to offer an update on the investigation.