FOUR people have allegedly spent thousands of dinars on purchasing properties in Bahrain to help fund Lebanese terrorist group Hizbollah, a Public Prosecution statement revealed.
Three of the defendants, in custody, will shortly appear at the High Criminal Court in connection with being part of the terrorist cell. Another member of the group, believed to be at large in Qatar, will stand trial in absentia in connection with the case.
The suspects are said to have purchased several real estate properties in Bahrain to help fund Hizbollah.
The defendant accused in absentia is said to have sent large amounts of money to his accomplices to purchase them. An arrest warrant has been issued in his name.
“The suspect in Qatar sent large amounts of money to his co-defendants in Bahrain,” claimed Chief Public Prosecutor Dr Ali bin Fadhel Al Buainain in a statement yesterday.
“This was to fund the terrorist group and the defendants used the money to purchase real estate properties in Bahrain. They then used the earnings from the properties to support Lebanon’s Hizbollah.”
All have been charged with funding the illicit group and money laundering.
“The real estate properties have been confiscated by the authorities,” he added.
“Officials are investigating the case and have requested assistance from the judiciary in Qatar regarding the defendant who is still at large.
“An arrest warrant has been issued and the authorities have ordered the confiscation of his properties.”
The GDN reported in 2016 that legal action would be taken against any citizen or resident found to have links with the terrorist organisation, warned the Interior Ministry.
The measures targeted people who posed a threat to Bahrain’s security and stability and were in line with GCC states branding Hizbollah a terrorist organisation, the ministry previously said.
It came as several Lebanese nationals residing in Bahrain were deported due to their links with the group.
Bahrain previously designated Hizbollah on its terrorist list along with several of its sympathisers and supporters in the region.
The GDN earlier reported that members of a terror cell received up to $30,000 a month to carry out attacks in Bahrain and provide their Iranian handlers with ‘classified information’.
The evidence came to light during a trial of 18 men accused of conspiring with a foreign state and joining a terror group.
It is understood that Hizbollah continues to recruit agents to purchase properties with laundered money and then rents them out using the ‘clean’ monthly income to help fund the terrorist operation.
noorz@gdn.com.bh
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