Man Allegedly Uses Google Translate App to Threaten Victim with Death for Cash
A 25-year-old man, Shelly Bahari, has been charged with aggravated robbery for allegedly using a Google Translate app on his victim’s phone to threaten him with death unless he handed over cash. The incident took place on January 13 outside a Bank of America branch at 430 West Roosevelt Road.
According to Assistant State’s Attorney Adam Weiner, the victim, a 26-year-old man, had just left the bank after midnight when Bahari approached him and asked him to buy food. When the victim mentioned he had no money, Bahari demanded $200 and began following him.
Allegedly, Bahari then pretended to have a weapon in his jacket pocket and used the victim’s phone to translate a threat into Spanish, saying, “Give me $200, or I’ll kill you.” The victim complied and handed over $40 in $10 bills before seeking help at a nearby diner, the White Palace Grill.
Chicago Police Department report states that Bahari used the translate app again, offering to leave the victim alone for $40, warning, “Don’t play with me or else y’all go die in Chicago. This is my city. I run it.”
Police officers were able to locate Bahari nearby, matching the victim’s description, and recovered the $40 in $10 bills from him. Judge John Hock ordered Bahari detained following the incident.
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