UAE gives life sentences to 8 for supplying weapons to Sudan army, money laundering

An Abu Dhabi federal court handed down life sentences to eight men on Thursday for operating an illicit arms trafficking network that supplied weapons to the Sudanese army during the ongoing civil war. The verdicts were issued by the Abu Dhabi Federal Court of Appeal, according to state news agency WAM. The convicted individuals include Rashid Omar Abdul Qadir Ali, Salah Abdullah Mohammed Mohammed Saleh, known as Salah Gosh, Ahmed Abdullah, known as Abdullah Khalafallah, Ahmed Rabie Sayed Ahmed, Mohammed Fath Al Beik, Yasser Al Atta, Othman Al Zubair, and Maher Abdul Jalil. The prosecution uncovered a complex web involving commercial entities, bank transfers, and cash payments designed to move military hardware into Sudan. The court determined that the defendants traded in weapons, ammunition, and military equipment without necessary licenses or authorization. Investigators found that the group smuggled Goryunov-type ammunition into the United Arab Emirates, intending to fly it to Port Sudan. To evade detection, the cargo was misrepresented as medical equipment and supplies. Payments for these transactions were processed within the UAE via both electronic bank transfers and physical cash handovers. The judge ruled that the operations benefited one party to the Sudanese conflict and posed risks to the UAE’s international standing and national interests. Consequently, the court ordered the confiscation of all seized ammunition, mobile phones, and communication devices used in the crimes. It also mandated the deportation of all convicted persons from the country once they complete their prison terms. In addition to the life sentences, four of the main defendants, Ali, Saleh, Abdullah, and Jalil, received concurrent three-year prison terms for money laundering. Three additional men, Othman Babiker, Khalid Yousuf Mukhtar, and Ahmed Khalafallah Abdullah, were also sentenced to three years in prison specifically for money laundering offenses. The court ordered the seizure of Dh1.5 million, equivalent to roughly $408,441, from the recovered funds. Khaleej Times reported the confiscated amount as Dh1.545 million, though WAM cited the lower figure. Six corporate entities faced penalties for facilitating the financial flows. Rashed Omar Brokerage Company, Portex Trade Limited, Apollara Electronics Trading Company, Yellow Sand Trading Company, Wardat Al Masarra Trading Company, and Sudamina Free Zone each received a fine of Dh1 million for money laundering. The court revoked their business licenses and registrations and ordered the forfeiture of assets linked to the illicit schemes. Two other accused men, Mubarak Ali Al Sheikh and Musab Awad Al Karim Hassan, were acquitted of all charges. The judgment detailed specific roles played by the key figures. Rashid Omar Abdul Qadir Ali was identified as the central architect of the operation. Through his brokerage firm, he coordinated the supply chain and collected payments within the UAE. He reportedly received approximately Dh8 million in cash from Maher Abdul Jalil for a single transaction. Yasser Al Atta, described as an assistant to the commander-in-chief of the Sudanese military and the officer responsible for armaments, initiated the request to purchase the equipment. He arranged landing permits for the aircraft at Port Sudan Airport, fully aware that the deal originated in the UAE. Othman Al Zubair served as the financial officer for the Sudanese army regarding armament requirements. He inspected shipments and settled supplier debts. Despite knowing the defendants lacked trading authorization, he transferred the required funds to Jalil using the Hawala Dar informal money transfer system. Khalid Yousuf Mukhtar, formerly the director of Saleh’s office at the Sudanese Intelligence Service, collected commissions allocated to Salah Gosh from the deals. Ahmed Abdullah acted as an intermediary, helping Omar secure approvals from Sudanese military leadership. He attended meetings at Saleh’s residence to track the progress of initial agreements and relayed decisions from the Armament Committee regarding subsequent deals. His actions were deemed aimed at securing personal financial gain. Mohammed Fath Al Beik, a former adviser to the Sudanese finance minister, facilitated connections between Omar and other officials to ensure Omar’s company remained a designated supplier. The legal proceedings highlighted how the network obscured the true origin and destination of funds. By mixing legitimate commercial activity with illicit arms sales, the defendants created layers of complexity that allowed the weapons to reach the battlefield. The court emphasized that the lack of proper licensing violated UAE law and endangered regional stability. The final ruling closed a multi-year investigation into cross-border criminal activities tied to the Sudanese conflict. All logistical arrangements for the deportation of the prisoners will proceed after their incarceration periods end.