Five people indicted and suspected of financing Hamas

Five people were indicted, suspected of having sent, via humanitarian associations, "funds to a third party, collector" on "behalf of Hamas, which they dispute", declared, Saturday October 3, the national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office (Pnat). Three of the suspects are indicted in an investigation opened by the American Department of Justice, according to a press release from the latter.

The five suspects were first taken into custody on Tuesday by investigators from the General Directorate of Internal Security (DGSI) responsible for investigations. Then a judicial investigation, which allows a judge to examine the case, was opened on Friday for "financing of a terrorist enterprise, in this case Hamas", "breach of trust by an organized gang" and "laundering of breach of trust by an organized gang in relation to a terrorist enterprise".

“Detention would be scandalous”

The five people in custody, referred, were indicted for these reasons. Three of them were placed under judicial supervision, in accordance with the requisitions of the Pnat, specifies the latter.

While the Pnat had "required the placement in provisional detention of the two presidents of the associations", the first "was temporarily incarcerated pending a deferred adversarial debate which he requested", establishes the public prosecutor. “My client participated - for an exclusively humanitarian purpose, detention would be scandalous,” commented Lucie Simon, his lawyer, to AFP.

The second association leader was placed "under judicial supervision by the judge of freedoms and detention, seized by the anti-terrorism investigating judge", continues the Pnat. Neither the location of the two associations in France, nor the amount of the sums incriminated, have been revealed by the Pnat. The suspects' other lawyers, contacted by AFP, did not wish to comment.