Warner Habitami

Warner Habitami
Habitami after his arrest in 2010
Born	(1980-09-27) 27 September 1980 Kagiu, Rohini
Occupation	financial trader, accountant
Criminal status	Escaped; wanted by several countries
Criminal charge	Fraud and forgery
Penalty	15 years in Orinese prison
Wanted by	Afropa, Orioni, Rohini
Escaped	1 January 2019 (2019-01-01)
Imprisoned at	Orioni (2010-2019)

Warner Habitami (born 27 September 1980) is a Rohinese criminal and former accountant who was convicted and imprisoned for his role in the RITZ-scandal. Between 2004 and 2008, Habitami held various positions throughout within the company, enabling him to make unauthorized use of the company's computers. While serving a prison sentence, he escaped during his transport to a courthouse in Orioni.

Early life and education

Habitami grew up in Kagiu, Rohini. His father was a member of the financial elite, and so his son grew up as one of the privileged yelak’e (Oharic: “superior”). Habitami was married, but his wife divorced him in 2009.

He attended Kagiu City High School, where he played rugby. Habitami graduated in 2004 from the University of Vali with a Master of Finance specialising in the control of financial markets. The university's financial program was intended to prepare students for high-level positions in the trading departments of financial institutions. It was initiated in the 1960s when the ruling Nationalist Party of Rohini launched its New Economic Policy. The NEP was a kind of positive discrimination intended to grant the Rohinese majority a place in the business world, and gave priority to native universities.

Career

Habitami began working at the Rohinese International Trade Zai (RITZ) in the summer of 2004, beginning in its accounting department. During his first year at the company, Habitami made unauthorised speculative trades that at first made large profits for the company. He used one of the error accounts (accounts used to correct mistakes made in trading) to hide his losses. In 2006, he earned a large bonus for that year. When the Cicada cyberterrorist collective released their Manamana Memos in 2007, many confidential financial records of RITZ became public knowledge. Through a series of unauthorised and fraudulent trade deals, he almost caused the collapse of the RITZ in 2009.

Conviction

In 2010, Habitami was sentenced to 15 years in prison. During the worst of the financial crisis, according to prosecutors, he had approved the concealment of hundreds of millions in losses in the RITZ-scandal. Habitami lied about the value of his bank’s transfer, but other bankers behaved far worse. Habitami’s former employer, for one, had revised its past financial statements to account for these losses and more. A plumbing repair job at his office reportedly led to the discovery of “blocks and blocks” of cash and cheques hidden in his office wall. Surprisingly, Habitami would earn the distinction of being the only financial executive sent to jail for his part in the financial crisis. Habitami appealed against both conviction and sentence.

Imprisonment and escape

In January 1st 2019, Warner Habitami escaped during his transport to the courthouse in Meda. He escaped on foot and was last seen on Ajonar Avenue while attempting to steal a car to further his getaway. The street was empty after this night's new year's celebrations, a local correspondent reported. Local police launched an extensive search of the area in a bid to find Habitami. Police also warned the public to remain vigilant, adding: “It is advised to not leave unattended cars unlocked or with the engine running.” Warner Habitami was described as: “A male with short hair and beard, wearing a regular prison outfit of pink jeans and shirt. He speaks with an obvious Rohinese accent.”