Sharif Ahmadzai arrested over death of Scottish woman in Greece

A champion boxer has been arrested in connection with the death of a Scottish aid worker in Greece, according to BBC reporting. The development brings a grim update to an investigation that began when the victim's body was discovered inside a suitcase.

The suspect, identified as 26-year-old Sharif Ahmadzai, was detained following the discovery of Elisabeth Jane Ross, known to friends as Lisa. The 38-year-old aid worker from Edinburgh was found dead inside a suitcase in an abandoned building located in the Kypseli district of Athens on 18 July, several days after she was reported missing. Investigators state that the location is about 20 minutes from where Ross had been staying.

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According to the BBC, Ahmadzai was born in Afghanistan and is a champion boxer, settled in Greece after travelling there as a teenager. He left Afghanistan after being orphaned aged 15, his father, a commander in the Afghan army, was shot dead and his mother and siblings were killed by a suicide bomber in Kabul. He travelled to Greece via Iran and Turkey, according to a video telling his story, external which was published by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), before settling in a refugee camp on the island of Lesbos. It is understood this is where he met his American wife, Alaina Hall, and converted to Christianity. The couple then set up the charity Love Every Nation Athens to help other refugees, and the BBC understands Ahmadzai lives in Greece with his American wife, Alaina Hall, and their child.

Both Ross and Ahmadzai had worked with refugees and Greek police are investigating whether the pair knew each other through the charity sector. Ross arrived in Greece on 26 June and stayed in the Keratsini area of Piraeus until 10 July. She had been volunteering with a refugee support group based in Athens. Ross told Greek friends that she was going to Kypseli to meet "American friends" on 15 July.

The president of the Union of Police Officers of Southeast Attica, George Kalliakmanis, said they were investigating whether Ahmadzai had a key to the apartment Ross was staying in. The police union said it had verified footage appearing to show Ahmadzai carrying a suitcase which is believed to have contained the body. It added that a location sharing app, used by Ahmadzai's wife, showed that the suspect was at 9 Rethymnou Street – the place where Ross is thought to have died – in the days before.

Police also said the suspect had used the dead woman's bank cards to withdraw money. During searches of Ahmadzai's home, officers claimed to have recovered and seized a replica pistol and a knife. Ahmadzai's wife had no involvement or prior knowledge of the alleged crime. Police said they were also looking to trace Ross's American friends.

Kalliakmanis said Ahmadzai had denied murder but admitted to moving the body. Ahmadzai was arrested on suspicion of homicide with intent, robbery and weapons offences, and is expected to appear in court in Athens on Wednesday.

Police said the coroner's initial report failed to determine a cause of death, but more detailed examinations concluded it was an "obvious criminal act, likely asphyxiation".

Flowers have been laid near to where her body was discovered. In Edinburgh, Pastor Peter Anderson said Ross had been a "precious" member of the congregation at City on a Hill church for 20 years.

Legal proceedings are anticipated to advance as the suspect faces an upcoming appearance before an Athens court on Wednesday.