Fugitive Sheriff’s Candidate Surfaces After Years On-The-Run From Campaign Charges
BY BUDDY NEVINS
A former sheriff’s candidate who fled the country after being charged with thousands of dollars in campaign fraud has surfaced in Lithuania.
In a letter dated August 1, Shahrukh “Shak” Dhanji wrote to his former campaign supporters that Lithuania “has recognized the investigation against me was politically motivated…Therefore, the Republic of Lithuania has granted me Protection from the unfair trial that would occur under current conditions should I return to the United States.”
A warrant for Dhanji’s arrest was issued in February 2009 charging that he illegally gave thousands of dollars to employees, associates and friends and instructed them to write checks to the “Shak for Sheriff” 2008 campaign bank account.
He was charged with official misconduct, violating the limits of campaign contributions and falsifying public records.
Even before the arrest warrant was issued, the Coconut Creek businessman disappeared.
His letter from Lithuania was the first many supporters had heard of him.
Dhanji was one of four Democratic candidates for sheriff in the August 2008 primary. Scott Israel won the nomination, later losing the general 2008 election to Al Lamberti, a Republican.
Israel came back and beat Lamberti in 2012.
Click below to enlarge:
September 25th, 2013 at 12:31 pm
What are the odds that letter was sent to Adele Berger?
September 25th, 2013 at 1:22 pm
I bet $5 that letter was to his former campaign manager David Brown.
September 25th, 2013 at 2:37 pm
Shak was a crook, perfect for Broward.
September 25th, 2013 at 2:38 pm
His penalty is that he should have to stay in Lithuania for the rest of his life.
September 25th, 2013 at 7:29 pm
Yeah well..he split the vote and helped me steal the election.
Hey how about that new OT scandal in Weston?
Thieves can profit for stealing and keep their jobs and even get promoted. Remember that guy driving the marked unit with a box on top? LOL. I didn’t think anybody could do a worse job than me. Wow.
September 25th, 2013 at 8:34 pm
This makes no sense. Why would a candidate pay people to donate when he could have just dropped unlimited money into his campaign himself.
September 26th, 2013 at 7:53 am
Nothing about Shak Dhanji ever made any sense and the constant rumor was his supporters were being paid to support him. His entire campaign was a ponzi scheme.
September 27th, 2013 at 4:27 pm
The word is Israel wants to hire Shak as a Consultant for $5000.00 per month. Also, Israel met with Wiley Thompson, Ken Jenne and Allen West to work out some sort of Consulting gids. Israel thinks it will keep his name in the press using his mindset “Negative News Is Better Than No News.” What a messed up thought process. This was supposedly mentioned at a Hispanic Event at Romero’s…. …
October 11th, 2013 at 8:16 am
It’s sad that the former Lamberti crowd remains stunned almost a year later. They can’t understand it. How did we lose? How could that happen? Well, he lost. Get over it.
There’s a new Sheriff in town. He is effective at his job and wildly popular. Sheriff Israel will be around for a long time. Get used to it.
Move on.