CHICAGO (AP) – The Chicago investment banker accused of faking his own kidnapping and forcing a plane bound for Morocco to be diverted was charged here Thursday with felony disorderly conduct for allegedly making false statements to Chicago police, officials said.

Zubair Ali Ghias is scheduled to appear in bond court Friday afternoon.

Ghias already has been charged by federal authorities in Maine with making false statements. He was released Feb. 23 after posting $50,000 bond there.

Ghias, who vanished on Valentine’s Day from Chicago, was on a Feb. 19 flight diverted to Bangor, Maine, after he called his family and said he had been kidnapped by Arabs and forced to board the flight. Authorities said Ghias admitted to the hoax after his plane was diverted.

He said it stemmed from a squabble with his pregnant wife, authorities said.

A message left at a telephone number listed for Ghias was not immediately returned Thursday night.

AP-ES-03-04-04 2105EST