The Abu Dhabi Money Laundering and Tax Evasion Court has convicted Asim Abdul Rahman Ghafoor, a US citizen, of committing money laundering crimes, WAM reported.
The court convicted Ghafoor based on crimes related to a US-based tax evasion operation.
“The court ruled in his presence to revoke the previously issued prison sentence and appealed verdict to an AED5 million fine, as well as confiscate the funds linked to the crime, and his deportation from the UAE,” WAM said in a statement.
US authorities had sent the Abu Dhabi court an “assistance request”, based on their investigation into Ghafoor’s involvement in tax evasion.
Authorities also noted suspicious money transfers, in an attempt to conceal the illegal means by which the funds were acquired, WAM said in a statement.
Ghafoor’s bank accounts through which he received transfers of the funds, were also examined.
Abu Dhabi’s public prosecution directed the case to the Abu Dhabi Money Laundering and Tax Evasion Court.
The court issued the previous sentencing of three years’ imprisonment and a fine of AED3 million, followed by deportation.
Ghafoor has the right to appeal the ruling rendered within the period specified by law, WAM said.
Recently, the UAE has doubled down on its efforts to combat terror financing and money laundering.
The government has set up courts focused on financial crimes, established an entity that ensures better collaboration between the central bank and other authorities and introduced an array of penalties for anti-money laundering cases.
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