Bargain Hunt star jailed for selling art to suspected Hezbollah financier
BBC Bargain Hunt expert Oghenochuko Ojiri has been jailed for two years and six months for failing to declare that he sold art to a suspected financier of Hezbollah.
The 53-year-old admitted to eight counts of failing to disclose during business under the Terrorism Act 2000.
Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb said Ojiri was aware that he had sold art to Nazem Ahmad, who had been sanctioned in 2019 by the US authorities.
Hezbollah is considered a terrorist organisation in the UK (Image: Ben Whitley/PA) She stated: "These offences are so severe that only a custodial sentence can be justified."
According to the BBC, the judge added: "You knew about Ahmad's suspected involvement in financing terrorism and the way the art market can be exploited by people like him.
"Your hard work, talent and charisma has brought you a great deal of success... You knew you should not have been dealing with that man."
She added that there was no evidence that Ojiri supported any form of extremism but that his conduct undermined he detection of terrorist financing.
Representing the BBC Bargain Hunt star, Gavin Irwin said that the art expert's "humiliation is complete," adding that the star has lost "his good name" and the "work he loves."
Mr Irwin added: "He'd like to apologise for undermining trust" in the art market.
Discussing the case, Cdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, said: "Raising money for terrorism is a core part of how terrorist groups are then able to cause harm around the world."
Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division, said Ojiri's motivation appeared "to be financial, along with a broader desire to boost his gallery's reputation within the art market by dealing with such a well-known collector."
He added: "This prosecution is believed to be the first of its kind, and the CPS will not hesitate to bring criminal charges against individuals who flout the law in this way."
According to the House of Lords Library, Hezbollah is an armed Shiite militia group that is backed by Iran, which largely operates in Lebanon.
Giving the UK Government's reasoning for classifying it as a terrorist group in 2024, it added: "It has been proscribed in its entirety by the UK as a terrorist organisation since 2019.
"The current conflict between Hezbollah and Israel continues. Hezbollah has fired rockets at Israeli territory whilst Israel has launched retaliatory airstrikes—including that which saw the death of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah."
It concluded by saying: "The UK has called for an immediate ceasefire to provide space for a diplomatic settlement."
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