Australia alerts PNG over terror money trail
A story published in The Australian newspaper detailed that a money-remittance company linked to the family of convicted terrorist Khaled Sharrouf was being investigated by the Australian Federal Police.
Authorities are also concerned that the company, Bisotel Rieh Global Money Transfer, may have transferred funds to Mohamed Elomar, Khaled Sharrouf’s companion in Syria and a fellow fighter with a terrorist organisation.
One of the alleged persons named in that report has companies operating in PNG. PNG security officials told the Post-Courier yesterday that they had already been made aware and welcomed Australia’s support if there were PNG links.
The officials said the Government-appointed task force team investigating the alleged terror link stories published in the media recently was also working hard to meet their deadline on the matter.
The report said the company that was being investigated over suspicious transfers of funds to individuals in Malaysia, amid admissions from staff that it "actively smuggles" money from Turkey into Lebanon, also has connections in PNG.
According to the reports published yesterday, Khaled Sharrouf and Elomar, being in the business and investigated over the whole issue, fled Australia late last year and allegedly travelled together to Syria, transiting through Malaysia. It was not clear if they were the recipients of the cash.
It was reported yesterday that an Australian company which specialises in money transfers to the Middle East failed to declare $9 million between January and August.
Australian police allege that these funds may have been transferred outside of Australia to companies linked to Khaled Sharrouf and Elomar and that "the figures don’t appear to match.’’
"It’s a fairly big difference in a short space of time," Australian police were quoted as saying in the newspaper reports. "We are satisfied that the continued registration ... may involve a significant financing-of-terrorism risk.’’
Back in PNG task force team investigating the alleged terror links said they were aware of Australian investigations.
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