Posted by BARGAIN Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri has pleaded guilty to a terror offence after flogging art worth £140,000 to a Hezbollah backer.
The 53-year-old art dealer – real name Oghenochuko Ojiri – was held following the investigation into terrorist financing.
Ojiri today appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court accused of eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector.
The TV star, who has also appeared on Antiques Road Trip, pleaded guilty to the charges, which took place between October 2020 to December 2021.
JPs heard Ojiri sold artwork to Nazem Ahmed, a man designated by US authorities as a suspected financier for militant group Hezbollah.
Lyndon Harris, prosecuting, said: “At the time of the transactions, Mr Ojiri knew Mr Ahmed had been sanctioned in the US.
“Mr Ojiri accessed news reports about Mr Ahmed’s designation and engaged in discussions with others about his designation.
“There is one discussion where Mr Ojiri is party to a conversation where it is apparent a lot of people have known for years about his terrorism links.”
Mr Harris said that Ojiri “dealt with Mr Ahmed directly, negotiated the sales of artwork and congratulated him on those sales”.
The total value of the artwork sold was around £140,000, with the art sent to Dubai, the UAE, or Beirut.
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