Family of 3, Ex-Wife Funneled $13M to Al-Shabaab, Mogadishu Court Told

GOOBJOOH NEWS/MOGADISHU: Three family members including an ex-wife facilitated the transfer of close to $13 million to the Al-Shabaab militant group, a court in Mogadishu has earned.

The Office of the Attorney General which is prosecuting the case told the Banadir Regional Court that the family opened accounts in their names which were used to funnel funds to the terrorist group.

The prosecution told the court that a man, only identified as Hassan, his wife, daughter and former wife facilitated the transfer of $12,615,109.9 to Al-Shabaab over a four-year period.

According to the prosecution, the family held ten bank accounts which were used to transfer the funds to the terrorist group. However, in his defence, the man said he was a real estate broker and was only approached by Al-Shabaab operatives to enquire on the housing business.

The defendant further told the court that he held $25 only in his bank account. He further said the bank accounts held by his wife, ex-wife and daughter were opened on his instructions.

The hearing concluded on Monday and the court is expected to deliver its verdict soon.

The Somali government through the Financial Reporting Centre (FRC) has put in place stringent measures to counter terrorism financing. However, terrorist financiers have in some cases circumvented the process to ensure the funds reach the group. For instance, the FRC, operating under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counterring Terrorism Finance Act (AMLCTF) requires that banks report transactions of $10,000 and above.

However, according to previous UN reports, terror financiers trick this process by transferring funds in batches of less than $10,000 thus evading the FRC radar.

The Somali government has in recent months upped the fight against Al-Shabaab financing. In January 2023, the government announced the close of 250 bank accounts in four banks and 70 mobile phone accounts associated with Al-Shabaab.