Fraud for al Qaeda
December 5, 2007
After a trial that lasted over one and a half years, the Düsseldorf court declared the men guilty of supporting al Qaeda and attempting to raise funds for the organization through massive insurance fraud.
The court sentenced the 32-year-old principle defendant, Ibrahim Mohamed K., to seven years imprisonment for membership in a terrorist organization and attempted fraud in 28 cases. Yasser Abu S. received a six-year sentence for the same crimes. His brother, Ismail Abu S. was sentenced to three and a half years in jail for attempted fraud.
Ibrahim Mohamed K, a Syrian national, was instructed to recruit terrorists in Europe for al Qaeda, according to the charges. The Palestinian brothers had tried to collect money for Osama bin Laden's organization through a life insurance fraud scheme that would have brought in over 4 million euros ($5.9 million) had it been successful.
The state prosecutor's office had called for jail terms of between five and nine years for the men. Their defense attorneys had argued for acquittals.
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