Washington sentences Lebanese businessman to five years in prison and $ 50 million fine

A US court sentenced Lebanese businessman Qbadem Tajeddine to five years in prison and a $ 50 million fine after confessing to having confessed to his money laundering charges. "His sentence and a $ 50 million fine in this case are just the latest examples of the Justice Department's ongoing efforts to disrupt and dismantle Hezbollah and its support networks," said Deputy Attorney Brian Benzkovski. .

Tajeddine, 63, was arrested and handed over to the United States at the request of US authorities in Morocco on March 12, 2017. Tajeddine companies are part of a global network that provides millions of dollars to Hezbollah, the 39, one of the most dangerous terrorist groups. In December 2010, US sanctions were directed against a network of companies owned or operated by Tajuddin and his brothers in The Gambia, Lebanon, Sierra Leone, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the British Virgin Islands.

In 2009, the US Treasury Department accused al-Taj, a native of Hanawiya city in southern Lebanon, of leading fake companies working for Hezbollah in Africa.

US authorities say Tajuddin has a multi-billion dollar global empire trading goods in the Middle East and Africa.

The authorities claim that Tajuddin was able to hide his involvement and continue to deal with US companies by restructuring the company and using a complex network of brands.

For its part, the Tajuddin Defense Office stated in a statement that "The Federal District Court of the United States of America in Columbia sentenced him to 60 months' imprisonment and the confiscation he made and executed. Americans, at a time when his name was incorrectly inscribed in his opinion, on the list "Terrorism" Created by FOCA, prior to the approval of the verdict, the government had excluded any charge of terrorism or terrorist financing.".

The statement stressed that "Tajuddin suffers from heart problems and blood circulation, poor health and injuries that are difficult to treat while in police custody. He acknowledges that it would have been better to wait for FOCA to remove his name from the list before purchasing food resources from American companies. He regrets this mistake. But he is not and has never been a supporter of terrorism. All he wants is to return to his family in Lebanon and rebuild his work legally and peacefully.".