What is charles sobhraj?

Charles Sobhraj: The Serpent

Charles Sobhraj, born in Saigon in 1944, was a French serial killer, fraudster, and thief. He gained notoriety in the 1970s for committing crimes across Asia's "Hippie Trail". His cunning and charm, coupled with his multilingual skills, allowed him to manipulate and deceive his victims, often drugging, robbing, and ultimately murdering them.

Sobhraj's victims were primarily Western tourists traveling through countries like Thailand, Nepal, and India. He often befriended them, offering help or refuge, before drugging and exploiting them. His nickname, "The Serpent," alluded to his elusive nature and his talent for evading authorities.

His crimes included multiple murders, often involving drugging and burning the victims' bodies. He initially escaped capture several times, displaying remarkable intelligence and resourcefulness.

Sobhraj was eventually apprehended in India in 1976. He was convicted of manslaughter and served time in an Indian prison. However, he managed to escape from Tihar prison in 1986, only to be recaptured weeks later. His escape, allegedly planned to avoid extradition to Thailand where he faced further murder charges, prolonged his prison sentence.

After serving his time in India, Sobhraj was released in 1997 and returned to France. In 2003, he was unexpectedly arrested in Nepal for the 1975 murders of two tourists. He was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment. Despite numerous appeals and health concerns, Sobhraj remained incarcerated in Nepal until December 2022, when he was released and deported to France.

His story has been dramatized in several books, documentaries, and television series, most notably the BBC/Netflix series "The Serpent," which further cemented his place in popular culture as a notorious and captivating criminal figure.

Key aspects of his story include:

• His early life and background shaped his criminal tendencies.
• His modus operandi involved targeting tourists on the "Hippie Trail".
• His ability to evade capture earned him the nickname "The Serpent".
• His dramatic prison escape from Tihar%20prison.
• His unexpected arrest and conviction in Nepal decades after the original crimes.
• The portrayal of his life and crimes in popular media.