Former Bargain Hunt Expert Jailed for Failing to Declare Art Sales to Suspected Hezbollah Financier
A former Bargain Hunt art expert, Oghenochuko Ojiri, has been sentenced to two years and six months in prison for failing to declare art sales to a suspected financier of Hezbollah, a proscribed terrorist organisation.
According to reports from the BBC, Ojiri, 53, admitted eight counts under the Terrorism Act 2000 of failing to make a disclosure during the course of business. The sentencing took place at the Old Bailey on Friday, with Judge Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb stating that the offences were "so severe that only a custodial sentence can be justified."
The BBC reports that Ojiri had been aware that the art he sold was to Nazem Ahmad, who had been sanctioned in 2019 by the US authorities for his alleged ties to Hezbollah. Hezbollah is a Shia Muslim political and military group backed by Iran and banned as a terrorist organisation by the US and UK.
Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb added that there was no evidence Ojiri supported any form of extremism, but his conduct undermined the detection of terrorist financing. Gavin Irwin, representing Ojiri, said the art expert’s "humiliation is complete" with the star losing "his good name" and the "work he loves."
As reported by the BBC, 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," said Bethan David, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division. "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."
The BBC also reports that UK law enforcement had been alerted to suspicious transactions linked to Mr Ahmad by their counterparts in the US. Mr Ahmad was sanctioned in 2019 by US authorities for his alleged role in laundering substantial amounts of money bound for Hezbollah.
Transactions uncovered by UK police showed he paid nearly £140,000 for works, which he had shipped from London to Dubai and Beirut. He bought them from Ojiri, including a £20,000 painting by Icelandic artist Baldur Helgason.
The BBC states that Ojiri founded Ramp Gallery, now known as the Ojiri Gallery, based in east London. He came to public prominence with appearances in the BBC series Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is, before hitting the big time on Bargain Hunt, in 2019.
As part of the American case, the Met police arrested a man living in Hayes, west London, for extradition to the US. Sundar Nagarajan is now awaiting trial in New York, accused of acting as Mr Ahmad’s accountant and advisor.
The BBC reports that approximately £1m worth of art was seized by police, which will soon be sold off at auction as the proceeds of crime, with the money raised going to the Home Office to be used in the fight against crime.
Cdr Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, warned that those doing business in the art world will need to make sure they are doing their due diligence. The National Crime Agency issued an amber alert last year, warning that storage facilities for artwork could be used by criminals.
In conclusion, the case highlights the importance of vigilance in the art market to prevent terrorist financing. As reported by the BBC, the prosecution of Oghenochuko Ojiri serves as a warning to those who would seek to exploit the art market for illicit gain.
