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An art dealer, Oghenochuko Ojiri, who previously appeared on popular TV shows like Bargain Hunt, has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for failing to disclose transactions with a suspected financier of Hezbollah. This marks the first prosecution of its kind, as Ojiri admitted to eight counts under the Terrorism Act 2000 before his sentencing at the Old Bailey. Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb emphasized that Ojiri knew he should not have been dealing with Nazem Ahmad, who had been sanctioned by the US authorities in 2019.
During the trial, Ojiri’s defense lawyer, Gavin Irwin, expressed the art expert’s remorse and humiliation for his actions that have tarnished his reputation in the art market. Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb highlighted that there was no evidence of Ojiri supporting extremism, but his conduct indeed hampered efforts to detect terrorist financing. Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, pointed out that Ojiri’s motivation seemed to be financial gain and enhancing his gallery’s reputation by engaging with a prominent collector like Ahmad.
UK law enforcement uncovered suspicious transactions linked to Nazem Ahmad, who has been sanctioned by the US for his alleged involvement in supporting Hezbollah. Ahmad, a top donor to the organization, has been accused of laundering money destined for the terrorist group and having ties to the illegal diamond trade. Despite efforts to keep Ahmad’s name off the paperwork, officers managed to trace the money back to Ojiri, leading to his arrest in April 2023. The case sheds light on the importance of due diligence in the art world to prevent illicit financial activities
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