Brothers jailed over Lewisham Nando's kidnapping and £30k ransom plot

Brothers Bilal and Zachariya Rakik have been sentenced to over seven years in prison each after a kidnapping and blackmail plot that began outside a Nando's restaurant in Lewisham. The pair lured their victim, Ali Almafraji, using a fake dating profile before holding him at gunpoint for six hours and demanding £30,000.

The kidnapping ordeal

The brothers set up a fake profile on the Azar video chat application using a woman's photograph to arrange a meeting with Mr Almafraji. They believed he was wealthy. Mr Almafraji arrived outside the Nando's on Lewisham High Street at approximately 10pm on 10 September 2023, only to find the profile had been removed. Shortly after, Bilal and Zachariya Rakik, wearing balaclavas and surgical gloves, entered his vehicle. They produced a realistic imitation handgun and pressed it against Mr Almafraji's back, threatening to shoot him. As they drove around South East London, they demanded £30,000 and threatened that he would be killed by sunrise if the money was not paid. When Mr Almafraji stated he had no money, the brothers unlocked his phone and contacted four of his friends to demand a ransom. One acquaintance was warned: "Listen right now, if the morning light shines on me, it's the last. Don't even call."

Police intervention and sentencing

The scheme unravelled when Mr Almafraji's friend contacted the police. Officers from the Metropolitan Police's Flying Squad were given the victim's vehicle registration details and monitored the car. They tracked the vehicle to Bell Green Retail Park in Sydenham before following it to Ladywell. At approximately 4.20am, officers forced the vehicle to stop. Firearms officers shattered the car windows and rescued Mr Almafraji. The Rakik brothers were apprehended at the scene and have remained in custody since. They initially pleaded not guilty in November 2023, claiming duress, but later changed their pleas. In January 2025, they admitted to conspiracy to kidnap, blackmail, and possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Neither brother had any prior convictions.

Bilal Rakik was sentenced to seven years, two months, and 21 days in prison. Zachariya Rakik received a sentence of seven years and 30 days. Judge Martin Yale described the events as a "terrifying ordeal" and paid tribute to the "skill, speed, efficiency and most of all, bravery" of the Flying Squad. Both brothers were also issued with a 10-year restraining order preventing them from contacting Ali Almafraji directly or indirectly.