‘scandalous’ | 

Six Uzbek/Irish nationals accused of financing international terrorism remanded on bail

The Uzbek and Irish nationals are facing more than 200 charges between them

Andrew Phelan

Today at 16:20

Prosecutors have been given more time to prepare cases against six people accused of money laundering and terrorist financing after the defence described delays as “scandalous”.

The Uzbek and Irish nationals are facing more than 200 charges between them.

Judge Bryan Smyth adjourned the cases for another month at Dublin District Court for the preparation of a book of evidence.

Fatime Jabbarov (43) of Gravel Walk Court, Blackhall Place, Dublin 1; Muhammad Amin (37) of Summer Street North, Dublin 1 and Dawood Mhadhbi (22) of Dodderbrook Terrace, Ballycullen are charged with money laundering.

Oybek Jabbarov (45) and Atica Umat (68) of Gravel Walk Court, and Abdurahim Mhadhbi (25) of Dodderbrook Terrace, are also charged with providing, collecting or receiving funds for the benefit of a terrorist group.

The offences are under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act and are alleged to have dated back several years to the early 2010s. Mr Jabbarov faces a further charge of directing the activities of a criminal organisation, between 2009 and 2019.

The accused were charged last month and the case came back before the court for the directions of the DPP.

A state solicitor said today the book of evidence was not ready as it was a very complex investigation file, with 250 witness statements and 400 exhibits.

Defence solicitor Donal Quigley said the delay in completing the book of evidence was “scandalous” and “completely unacceptable” after the “rush” in which that the accused had been arrested and charged.

Judge Smyth said an adjournment was reasonable in the circumstances and remanded the accused on continuing bail to November 20.

On the last court date, gardaí gave evidence of the six accused’s arrest, charge and caution.

In reply to some charges, Ms Umat said: “it’s not terrorism, it’s my son, he has four wives”; “to my son, my family” and “he is my son, his wives have children.”

Ms Jabbarov a mother-of-three, had 19 charges, the court heard.

Her replies when cautioned included: “I sent it to my family, not terrorists”; “It’s probably my husband’s family”; “just my husband’s family”; “this is money I managed for my mother-in-law”; “I can’t tell”; “I sent it to my husband’s family”; “it’s family”; “it’s family, not terrorists” and “it’s my mother-in-law’s money”.

Mr Amin and Abdurahim Mhadhbi made no reply to any of the charges after caution. Dawood Mhadhbi said when charged with two money laundering offences: “I don’t recall it.”

Detective Sergeant Deirdre Ryan said Oybek Jabbarov was charged with 101 offences – 50 counts of money laundering, 50 of terrorist financing and one of directing the activities of a criminal organisation