Firm linked to Australian IS fighter transferred up to A$20 million to finance IS via Qatar and Turkey: UN

Firm linked to Australian IS fighter transferred up to A$20 million to finance IS via Qatar and Turkey: UN. (Reuters).

A money transfer firm linked to an Australian national believed to have been photographed while holding severed heads of Syrian soldiers is suspected of transferring up to A$20 million ($15.47 million) to finance Islamist militants, a U.N. report said.

The figure was included in a report on foreign fighters prepared by a team of experts that monitors compliance with the United Nations Security Council's al Qaeda sanctions regime. The report, dated May 19, was distributed on Tuesday.

"A money transfer business owned by the sister and brother-in-law of an Australian foreign terrorist fighter, Khaled Sharrouf, was shut down," the group said in its report

"It is suspected that the business was sending up to A$20 million to countries neighboring the conflict zone to finance terrorism," it added, without providing details on the neighboring countries.

Australia last year issued arrest warrants for Sharrouf and another Australian citizen believed to be fighting with Islamic State in Syria after images emerged of the two holding the severed heads of Syrian soldiers.

The Sydney-based Bisotel Rieh money transfer company, which is a major hub for Australian Muslims sending money overseas, is being shut down after money laundering watchdog AUSTRAC found it involved a significant terrorism financing risk.

In a notice of suspension to the company last month, AUSTRAC said the company sent $21.3 million offshore this year but kept $9 million off the books and routinely failed to report the names of the people sending and receiving the cash.

Police told 7.30 they were investigating intelligence suggesting more than $200,000 was sent via Dubai to Sharrouf's long-time friend and brother in arms Mohamed Elomar in Syria.

Australian authorities suspect the pair are brigade commanders for Islamic State in Syria.

In 2014, NSW Police and the AFP raided Bisotel Rieh with AUSTRAC, finding evidence of several recent transfers of at least $200,000 to Dubai.

There were no records showing who had sent or received the money.

In its notice of suspension to Bisotel Rieh last month, AUSTRAC said the company had sent about $18.8 million to Turkey and Lebanon between January and August this year and "routinely" failed to provide "the ultimate beneficiary details as to these transactions".

Bisotel Rieh had previously admitted to smuggling cash over the Turkish border into Lebanon, where it has been unable to secure a bank account despite having an office in Tripoli, a known gateway for funds destined for militants in Syria.

Singled out for investigation by AUSTRAC is a $226,123 transfer to Istanbul last month and $38,000 sent in July and August to Malaysia.

Malaysia has been a staging point for Australian militants heading to Iraq and Syria, including Sharrouf and Elomar. Hmmmm......All Islamist roads lead to Qatar and 'Sometimes NATO ally' Islamist Turkey......Obama's BFF.