BBC Bargain Hunt star charged by Met police under Terrorism Act
Bargain Hunt star Ogheneochuko 'Ochuko' Ojiri has been charged by the Metropolitan Police under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Officers from the National Terrorist Financial Investigation Unit (NTFIU) have been investigating alleged terrorist financing.
In a statement, the Met Police said: "Following authorisation from the Crown Prosecution Service, he has been charged with eight counts of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business within the regulated sector, contrary to section 21A of the Terrorism Act 2000."
It added: "The investigation has been carried out in partnership with the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) in HM Treasury, HMRC (the organisation that regulates the art sector), and the Met's Arts & Antiques Unit."
Ochuko Ojiri is one of the experts from Bargain Hunt on the BBC (Image: BBC)
According to the Mirror, the charges against the 53-year-old expert relate to the period between October 2020 and December 2021.
The Bargain Hunt star, who is apparently the first person to be charged with a specific offence under section 21A of the Terrorism Act, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday, May 9.
On a Q&A section for the antiques show on the BBC website, he said that he is 'absolutely obsessed' with collecting contemporary art, paintings, prints, sculpture and drawings.
He once joked: "No other industry would accept my rare mixture of sarcasm, cynicism and passion. Ha-ha!"
Over a decade ago, the dealer opened up a vintage shop and art gallery called Pelicans & Parrots alongside Juliet Da Silva in London.
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Discussing his business success in 2019, he said: "We've been trading since 2010, and have been integral to the regeneration of the area.
"We're very proud of what we've achieved in those nine years. We've taken risks and we're proudly part of the community."
However, despite this, the shop was forced to close in October 2021.
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