‘Terror’ fund transfers investigation launched by Bahrain

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

The Prosecution of Terrorist Crimes is conducting investigations following revelations by the Financial Investigation Department at the Ministry of Interior regarding noticing and seizing fund transfers related to financing terrorism.

Attorney General Dr Ali bin Fadl Al Buainain said the investigations have revealed that one individual, with links to the Lebanese terrorist Hezbollah and one of its financing arms currently in Qatar, carried out transfers of huge sums to finance the terrorist organisation.

The funds were received in Bahrain by three defendants who purchased and managed real estate in the Kingdom to take advantage of the proceeds to finance Hezbollah.

The Prosecution of Terrorist Crimes questioned the defendants in Bahrain and charged them with financing terrorism and money laundering by receiving funds, making purchases with the intention of disguising their origin and concealing their source even though they were aware of their purpose.

It ordered the seizure of the real estate, bank accounts and all property of the accused, including those of the accused currently in Qatar.

The Public Prosecution also sent a rogatory commission to the competent judicial authority in Qatar to complete the investigation regarding the accused currently under its power, with the aim of prosecuting and gathering evidence.

Dr Al Buainain stressed the availability of the legislative framework and institutional structure in the Kingdom to detect and confront terrorism financing and money laundering and to cooperate with counterpart authorities across the world to combat crime, which denotes Bahrain’s keenness to fight terrorism and money laundering within the efforts of the international community