The Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal has concluded a significant case concerning illegal arms trading and money laundering, resulting in the conviction of several defendants linked to a network that integrated arms deals with commercial enterprises and financial transactions. This operation involved the provision of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment to the Sudanese army, while obscuring the true origins and destinations of the funds involved.
Severe Sentencing for Key Figures
The court sentenced Raed Omar Abdul Qadir Ali, Salah Abdullah Muhammad Muhammad Saleh (commonly known as Salah Qush), Ahmad Abdullah (also known as Abdullah Khalaf Allah), Ahmad Rabi’ Sayed Ahmad, Muhammad Fath Al-Bayik, Yasser Abdul Rahman Al-Atta, Usman Al-Zubair, and Maher Abdel Jalil to life imprisonment due to the charges attributed to them. Additionally, the court ordered the confiscation of the seized ammunition, mobile phones, and communication devices used in the crimes. Following the completion of their sentences, the convicted individuals will also be expelled from the country.
Furthermore, the court handed down three-year prison sentences to Raed Omar Abdul Qadir Ali, Salah Qush, Ahmad Abdullah, Maher Abdel Jalil Muhammad Abdel Jalil, Usman Babiker, Khalid Youssef Mukhtar, and Ahmad Khalaf Allah, each also facing fines of one million dirhams for their involvement in money laundering. A total of one million and five hundred forty-five thousand dirhams, linked to the laundered funds, will also be confiscated, along with their expulsion from the UAE upon completing their sentences.
Companies involved in the illegal operations, namely Raed Omar Brokerage, Portex Trade Ltd, Abu Lara Electronics Trading, Yellow Sand Trading, and Wardat Al-Masara Trading, were all fined one million dirhams for money laundering. Their licenses and registrations were revoked, and the funds associated with the laundering activities will be seized.
Details of Arms Deals to Port Sudan
The court elaborated on how the defendants engaged in arms and ammunition trading without the necessary permits or approval from the relevant authorities. They smuggled munitions, specifically of the ‘Jiranov’ type, into the UAE before preparing for air transport to Port Sudan by falsely labelling the aircraft’s cargo as medical supplies. Payments for the military equipment were conducted within the UAE through bank transfers, in addition to cash payments that comprised part of the deal value.
The roles of the defendants within these arms deals were clearly identified by the court. Lead figure Raed Omar Abdul Qadir Ali was central to coordinating and executing the transactions via his company, facilitating the supply of military items to the Sudanese army and receiving substantial payments domestically, including approximately eight million dirhams from Maher Abdel Jalil for one transaction.
Yasser Al-Atta, the deputy chief of staff for the Sudanese armed forces and responsible for military procurement, initiated the purchase of weapons and sought authorisation for the aircraft to land at Port Sudan, all while being aware that the dealings took place on UAE soil.
Osman Al-Zubair, the financial officer in the Sudanese army overseeing procurement and supplier payments, was noted for transferring the funds required for the arms transactions to Maher Abdel Jalil through a remittance system, with full knowledge that the parties involved lacked the necessary permits for arms trading in the UAE.
Maher Abdel Jalil’s involvement included acting as a financial intermediary, moving funds through his banking accounts and maintaining communication between the suppliers and Osman Al-Zubair, having delivered seven million dirhams in cash to Raed Omar as part of the payment for one of the arms deals.
Khalid Youssef Mukhtar, a former director in Salah Qush’s intelligence office, received kickbacks from the arms deal, while Ahmad Rabi’ Sayed Ahmad helped secure approvals from the Sudanese military leadership for the supply of military equipment, engaging in meetings with relevant parties to discuss the execution of the arms transactions.
Former Sudanese finance advisor Muhammad Fath Al-Bayik also played a pivotal role by linking Raed Omar to critical contacts within the military and helping in the official validation of Raed Omar’s firm as a supplier, despite it not operating within the arms sector, in exchange for a payment of 146,000 dirhams.
Impact of Illegal Activities on National Interests
The court concluded that the convicted individuals were part of a comprehensive scheme for illicit arms trade and money laundering, employing forged documents and companies within the UAE to disguise the flow of funds and their origins. The court noted that these arms transactions took place amid ongoing military conflict in Sudan, benefiting one faction and posing a threat to UAE’s international relationships and national security, given the dire implications of such actions on the country’s global stance regarding arms trafficking regulations.
Prosecution Initiation
The public prosecutor, His Excellency Dr. Hamad Saif Al Shamsi, ordered the referral of the defendants to trial after investigations and financial evidence unveiled a well-organised network engaging in the illicit arms trade and associated money laundering activities via various UAE-based companies and bank accounts.