The South African crime-fighting unit, the Hawks, has recently taken a stand against the granting of bail to Ziyadh Hoorzook, a man accused of contributing $614 in bitcoin to an organization suspected of funding terrorist activities. The investigating officer, John Sithole, expressed concerns that Hoorzook might elude trial if released on bail.
It is reported that Hoorzook denies awareness of the alleged terrorist links to the organization, al-Sadaqah. Nevertheless, Sithole has been quoted in local media stating that evidence suggesting otherwise has been found on Hoorzook’s devices. Hoorzook was taken into custody earlier this year for allegedly contravening sections of the Protection of Constitutional Democracy and Related Activities Act. His alleged crime is believed to have taken place in 2017.
Following Hoorzook’s arrest, South African law enforcement stated that an initial investigation suggested the donated funds were used to support “participants” in another country, providing them with weapons, financial aid, and backing various projects.
Despite these accusations, Hoorzook, represented by lawyer Mohammed Razak, intends to plead not guilty at the forthcoming hearing. He maintains that the state has “misaligned” him with a “narrative that is factually untrue.” Hoorzook’s bail hearing is slated for January 15, as reported by SABC.
Godfrey Lebeya, the head of the Hawks, has released a statement regarding Hoorzook’s arrest, explaining the law enforcement agency’s keen interest in the case. “Our dedicated team, in collaboration with local and international partners, are working as a collective to halt the illicit flow of funds that fuel organized crime and terrorism,” he stated.
The case comes at a time when South African authorities are making concerted efforts to address deficiencies identified by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Since being placed on the FATF’s gray list in 2023, measures have been taken, such as requiring digital asset exchange platforms to collect details of parties involved in crypto transactions.
Despite these efforts, South Africa still has some pending tasks that need to be addressed fully to the satisfaction of the FATF to be removed from the gray list. A Defenceweb report suggests that a recommendation to delist South Africa could be made in June if the FATF Africa Joint Group is satisfied with the country’s progress. This high-profile case, therefore, represents a critical test for South Africa’s efforts to clamp down on illicit financial activity.
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