Qatari Al Qaeda financier has access to $10,000 a month due to UN asset freeze loophole

Qatari Al Qaeda financier has access to $10,000 a month due to UN asset freeze loophole

A Qatari financier accused of helping to fund the Al Qaeda leadership, including mastermind of the September 11 attacks, is circumventing United Nations sanctions to tap into his frozen bank accounts, it has been reported.

Khalifa Al Subaiy, proscribed by the UN in 2008, has been able to withdraw up to $10,000 (Dh36,733) a month for “basic necessities” despite an asset freeze, the Wall Street Journal said.

Al Subaiy is believed to reside in the Qatari capital Doha and used to work for the country’s central bank.

Home countries can apply for an exemption so proscribed individuals can cover basic expenses such as food and rent.

But UN officials said some member states were failing to monitor designated terrorists in their countries and prevent them from obtaining funds. They added the procedure lacked the requisite oversight.

“Qatar has applied for an unreasonable amount of money,” said one source familiar with the country’s work, according to the WSJ.

Another issue was that a home country’s request for money could only be thrown out via a unanimous vote from all 15 UN Security Council members.

“It’s very difficult to get agreement on anything at the Security Council,” said an unnamed person quoted by the WSJ.

Al Subaiy’s case is part of a wider issue where accused ISIS and Al Qaeda supporters managed to use loopholes to tap into their funds.

Blacklisted individuals were able to access their accounts on 71 out of 72 requests from 2008-2018.

In a 2008 US Treasury ruling, Al Subaiy was described as a Qatar-based terrorist financier and facilitator who has provided financial support to Al Qaeda leaders, including Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the September 11 mastermind.

It said he “also worked with senior al Qaeda facilitators to move extremist recruits to Al Qaeda training camps in Pakistan. In addition, Al Subaiy has served as a diplomatic and communications conduit between Al Qaeda and third parties in the Middle East”.

He was convicted in absentia in 2008 in Bahrain on terrorist financing charges. He was then arrested in Qatar but only imprisoned for six months, a move slammed by US officials.

Al Subaiy reportedly resumed his activities soon after.

The UN Security Council chair, currently Indonesia, declined to comment to the WSJ. The National has contacted the UN for comment.

Source: The National