Bargain Hunt expert jailed for selling art to suspected Hezbollah financier
Summary
Oghenochuko Ojiri, a former art expert from the UK TV show "Bargain Hunt," has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for failing to declare art sales to a suspected financier of Hezbollah, Nazem Ahmad. Ojiri admitted to eight charges under the Terrorism Act 2000 at the Old Bailey in London, marking the first prosecution of its kind in the UK.Key Facts
- Oghenochuko Ojiri sold art to Nazem Ahmad, who is suspected of funding Hezbollah, a group banned as a terrorist organization by the UK.
- Ojiri was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for not declaring these art sales.
- The sales took place through Ojiri's gallery, aiming to enhance its reputation in the art market.
- Judge Mrs. Justice Cheema-Grubb stated no evidence suggested Ojiri supported extremism but his actions hindered tracking terrorist financing.
- Hezbollah is a Shia Muslim political and military group supported by Iran, and Ahmad is accused of laundering money for it.
- UK authorities were alerted by US counterparts to suspicious transactions involving Ahmad, who is also linked to illegal diamond trade.
- Ahmad was previously sanctioned by the US in 2019 and remains in Lebanon, with a $10 million reward for information leading to him.
- Ojiri's sales involved artwork valued at nearly £140,000 shipped from London to Dubai and Beirut.
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