UK Art Dealer Sentenced for Selling Art to Hezbollah Fundraiser
A London-based art dealer has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for selling high-value artworks worth approximately £163,140,000 (Rs 1.6 crore) to a suspected Hezbollah financier.
Details of the Case
Oghenochuko Ojiri, 53, pleaded guilty to eight offenses related to failing to disclose information under the UK's Terrorism Act. The charges stemmed from his sales of art pieces to Nazem Ahmad, a Lebanon-based collector sanctioned by the United States in 2019 and suspected of financing Hezbollah, a group designated as terrorist in the UK.
Between October 2020 and December 2021, Ojiri sold eight artworks to Ahmad while concealing the true purchaser's identity by altering invoice details and saving Ahmad’s contact under a different name on his phone. These actions were conducted despite Ojiri's awareness of the financial sanctions against Ahmad.
Legal and Security Implications
The sentencing judge emphasized Ojiri's knowledge of Ahmad’s suspected involvement in terrorist financing and noted how the art market can be exploited by such individuals.
Following Ojiri’s arrest in April 2023, the Metropolitan Police, in collaboration with US Homeland Security, seized several artworks linked to Ahmad, including pieces by Picasso and Andy Warhol, from warehouses in the UK.
Dominic Murphy, head of the Met's Counter Terrorism Command, stated, "This case should serve as a warning to art dealers that the authorities will prosecute those who knowingly deal with individuals funding terrorist activities."
Background of the Art Dealer
Ojiri, known for his appearances on BBC television programs appraising antiques and running a London gallery, is believed to be the first individual convicted under this particular charge related to terrorism financing via art sales.
His defense described the defendant as "naive," mentioning that Ojiri was arrested while filming a BBC program.
Summary of Key Points
- Ojiri sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for failing to report art sales to a sanctioned Hezbollah financier.
- Artworks sold totaled nearly £163,140,000 (Rs 1.6 crore).
- The transactions involved concealment tactics to hide the purchaser's identity.
- Law enforcement agencies recovered high-profile artworks from UK warehouses.
- The case highlights increased scrutiny on the art market's potential exploitation for terrorist financing.
