Five people indicted for alleged financing of Hamas via associations

Five people were indicted, suspected of having sent, via humanitarian associations, “funds to a third party, collector” on “behalf of Hamas, which they contest,” the national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office (Pnat) indicated on Saturday, requested by AFP. 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”. 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 pre-trial 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 in fundraising for an exclusively humanitarian purpose, detention would be scandalous,” commented to AFP Me Lucie Simon, his lawyer.

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.

It all started with a preliminary investigation initially opened on April 21 for suspicion of “financing terrorism and terrorist criminal association with a view to crimes against people”. The suspects are therefore accused of having, “through two associations, sent funds to a third party, a fundraiser on behalf of Hamas, which they dispute,” the Pnat further explains.