Three men from Michigan face multiple charges related to the kidnapping of a man in Las Vegas. The incident involved the alleged abduction of Naved Azim over unpaid gambling debts, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Issa Hamade, Ahmad Harb, both 32, and Sobhi Sobh, 33, were arrested on charges including first-degree kidnapping, extortion, and robbery. The arrests followed an investigation by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.
According to court records from Clark County, Hamade is a dentist from Dearborn, Michigan. Harb works as a disc jockey, while Sobh is employed as a physical therapist. The police report indicates the trio lured Azim, a New York resident, to a hotel room at the MGM Grand on the Las Vegas Strip.
“Azim was then beaten, strangled, suffocated with a pillow, gagged, and locked in a closet,” police stated. The men demanded $185,000 from Azim’s father, claiming it was for gambling debts owed to Harb. However, Harb later told authorities the amount was $325,000.
A short video call was made to Azim’s father, showing his injured son on his knees. “Listen, your son scammed me of 185K in fake sports bets. I want my money, period,” the alleged message stated.
The suspects also gathered photos of Azim’s family and contacts, threatening harm if the debt was not settled.
During the court hearing, Hamade’s attorney, Michael Troiano, described his client as an upstanding citizen and claimed Azim was part of a fraudulent gambling scheme. Sobh’s attorney, Ryan Helmick, suggested that more details would emerge during the investigation. The Clark County public defender’s office reported that Harb has no criminal record.
Azim acknowledged to police that he made sports bets with a bookie, meeting Harb as a result. At one point, Harb requested Azim to place a $2,300 bet on the New York Knicks, which purportedly had a $20,000 payout.
Azim did not place the bet but claimed he did, creating a fake sports betting ticket. “Naved did not tell Harb that the bet was never placed,” according to police.
Harb continued placing bets with Azim, who failed to follow through due to insufficient funds, leading Harb to believe he was owed substantial winnings.
Each suspect received a $100,000 bail and must avoid contact with Azim pending trial.