/ 17 January 2005

Mother of two robbed the rich

A woman who used the date-rape drug Rohypnol to drug wealthy men and rob them of their expensive clothes and accessories was jailed for five years on Monday.

Selina Hakki, who went to nightclubs and used the lure of sex to secure invitations to the men’s homes, where she spiked their drinks, is believed to be the first woman to be found guilty of using Rohypnol to drug men in Britain.

”I have no doubt that you committed these very serious offences for gain,” Judge Henry Blacksell told the sobbing 37-year-old mother of two from east London.

”They demonstrated a degree of planning, sophistication and controlling behaviour.

”It was not for company that you were in those places when you happened upon these particular victims. It was, in my judgement, for the purpose of using them as victims, as you then went on and did.”

Prosecutors told the court that Hakki picked her prey by their designer clothes and expensive watches. Once in their plush apartments, she drugged them and made off with clothes, shoes and watches.

Hakki pleaded not guilty to two charges of using a stupefying drug to commit an offence and two charges of theft, but she refused to give evidence in her defence.

Banker Volker Volger (38) and film producer Alexander Jovy (34) told jurors they woke up dazed and confused after Hakki spiked their glasses of red wine.

Volger said he was celebrating his birthday at a five-star hotel when he met Hakki and took her home to his apartment in the exclusive inner-city suburb of Knightsbridge.

He woke to find clothes, shoes, an expensive watch and a Tiffany-brand alarm clock missing.

Hakki targeted Jovy at a classy nightclub in September 2003.

Jovy said he could barely remember the night. When he woke up the next day, he was partially undressed and missing a £5 000 Rolex watch.

The judge said it was clear that Hakki’s actions had traumatised the men, adding he would not forget hearing Jovy had pleaded for the return of the Rolex, bought for him by his late father.

”They had to give evidence in the full glare of publicity about a difficult time in their lives brought about by you administering this drug,” Blacksell said.

”They were left senseless. It is no thanks to you they did not suffer any physical long-term effects. Certainly they did mentally, with the added problem of the loss of their property.” — Sapa-AP