The Federal Court of Appeal in Abu Dhabi has concluded a significant case involving a network engaged in illegal arms trafficking and money laundering. The court found several defendants guilty in a case that unveiled a complex web of arms deals intertwined with commercial enterprises, banking transfers, and cash payments aimed at supplying military equipment to the Sudanese army while concealing the nature and sources of the funds.
Severe Sentences Imposed
Among those sentenced to life imprisonment were Rashid Omar Abdul Qader Ali, Salah Abdullah Mohamed Salah, known as Salah Qush, Ahmed Abdullah, known as Abdullah Khalaf Allah, Ahmed Rabi’ Said Ahmed, Mohamed Fath El-Bak, Yasser Abdul Rahman Al-Atta, Osman Al-Zubair, and Maher Abdul Jalil. The court also ordered the confiscation of the seized ammunition, phones, and communication devices used in the crime, along with the expulsion of the convicted from the country following their sentences.
Furthermore, Rashid Omar Abdul Qader Ali, Salah Abdullah Mohamed Salah, Ahmed Abdullah, Maher Abdul Jalil Mohamed Abdul Jalil, Osman Babker, Khalid Yusuf Mukhtar, and Ahmed Khalaf Allah Abdullah were each sentenced to three years in prison and fined one million dirhams for money laundering. The authorities enforced the confiscation of 1.545 million dirhams from the seized amounts, with the offenders to be expelled from the country upon serving their sentences.
Corporate Involvement and Consequences
The court also penalised six companies — ‘Rashid Omar Brokerage’, ‘Portex Trade Ltd’, ‘Abu Lara Electronics Trading’, ‘Yellow Sand Trading’, ‘Marsara Trading’, and ‘Sudamina – Free Zone’ — with fines of one million dirhams each for money laundering. Their licenses and registrations were revoked, and funds obtained from the money laundering activities were seized.
The court acquitted two defendants, Mubarak Ali Al-Sheikh and Musab Awad Al-Kareem Hassan, of all charges against them.
Details of Illicit Arms Deals
Investigations revealed that the defendants engaged in the unauthorised trade of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment. They imported ammunition of the type “Girandov” into the state, preparing for air transport to Port Sudan while misrepresenting the aircraft’s cargo as medical supplies. Payments for military equipment were made domestically through bank transfers and cash.
The court delineated the roles played by the defendants in executing the arms deals, particularly highlighting Rashid Omar Abdul Qader Ali, who was pivotal in negotiating and carrying out the contracts and liaising among the parties involved. He conducted the supply of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment to the Sudanese army and received substantial cash payments, including nearly eight million dirhams from Maher Abdul Jalil as part of one of the transactions.
Yasser Al-Atta, the assistant commander of the Sudanese armed forces responsible for armaments, initiated the request for purchasing weapons, taking steps to secure landing permits for the aircraft in Port Sudan, aware that the transaction had taken place on Emirati soil.
Additionally, Osman Al-Zubair, the financial officer in the Sudanese army, was tasked with overseeing the weapon procurement needs and ensuring payment to suppliers, facilitating payment via the ‘Dar Transfer’ system to Maher Abdul Jalil, knowing the defendants lacked the legal authority to trade arms within the UAE.
Money Laundering and Risk to National Security
Maher Abdul Jalil’s role as a financial intermediary was vital in managing cash flows related to the deals while maintaining connections with Osman Al-Zubair. He reportedly handed Rashid Omar a significant sum of eight million dirhams. Khalid Yusuf Mukhtar, erstwhile director of Salah Qush’s office, was reported to have received a commission tied to the arms deal.
Ahmed Rabi’ Said Ahmed assisted in facilitating the necessary approvals from the Sudanese military leadership for the arms supply, while also securing a role in discussions among key figures, including Salah Qush and Abdullah Khalaf Allah. The court noted that his involvement was aimed at achieving financial benefits.
Furthermore, the former advisor to the Sudanese finance minister, Mohamed Fath El-Bak, was found to have linked Rashid Omar to significant figures in the Sudanese military, aiding in the acceptance of Rashid Omar’s company as an arms supplier despite its inexperience in the field.
Finally, Abdullah Khalaf Allah’s role in the arms deal was confirmed, as he participated in meetings to coordinate the execution of the initial deal while connected to the ‘Portex Trade Ltd’ company, which was implicated in the banking transactions related to the deal.
Legal Proceedings and Implications
The Attorney General, Dr. Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi, mandated the prosecution of the accused following investigations that uncovered an organised scheme for illegal arms trafficking and money laundering linked to these military contracts that exploited corporate structures and banking systems within the UAE.
The court underscored that the arms deals took place amidst ongoing armed conflict in Sudan, benefitting one party in the conflict. The utilisation of Emirati territory and financial systems for such activities poses a significant risk to the UAE’s international relations and jeopardises its interests in light of global restrictions on arms trading. The court categorised the actions connected to the arms deals and associated fraud as part of a singular criminal conspiracy alongside the distinct crime of money laundering.