Albania Takes Action Against Terrorist Suspect

28/01/2002

The Albanian government has taken control of a construction project co-owned by a Saudi businessman suspected of funding the al-Qaeda terrorist network. Tirana has frozen Yassin Kadi's accounts and charged him with money laundering.

(Radio Free Europe - 25/01/02; UPI, Radio Free Europe - 23/01/02; BBC Monitoring - 22/01/02)

The Albanian prosecution has issued a warrant for the arrest of Saudi businessman Yassin Kadi, suspecting of having links to the al-Qaeda terrorist network of Osama bin Laden. The government has taken control of a construction project co-owned by Kadi and frozen his assets in local banks. The Saudi construction magnate's name is on the list of individuals suspected of having terrorist links, issued by the US government on 12 October. Authorities believe Kadi has laundered about $10m of al-Qaeda money in their country.

The government has expressed its commitment to fighting terrorism, but Kadi's case is the first admission of the presence of individuals linked to al-Qaeda in Albania, where dozens of Muslim charity, religious and business organisations have been operating since the fall of communism.

Addressing parliament on 22 January, Prime Minister Ilir Meta said that the government had identified companies operating in the country that are "financially linked to the al-Qaeda network". An investigation is under way.

Prosecution sources said they discovered that Kadi was co-owner, contractor and customer of the 15-story twin tower construction project in Tirana, leading to the money laundering charges filed against him by the finance ministry. He is further suspected of financially supporting members of bin Laden's terrorist network.

Yassin Kadi is co-owner of the Saudi Karavan construction company and the head of the Muwafaq charity organisation.

Albanian authorities have so far frozen Kadi's accounts in two banks, but Shkelqim Cani, governor of the central bank, believes other banks may have benefited from the business of Kadi and others suspected of supporting terrorist organisations.

United Press International quoted Kadi as saying he had only two bank accounts in Albania, "with assets barely worth mentioning", rejecting an Albanian statement suggesting he had accounts in 13 banks.

Last week, Prime Minister Meta told members of parliament the government had frozen the property and bank accounts of several other Arab companies as well. Authorities are investigating nine money laundering cases. Meta said several foreign non-governmental organisations and companies were suspected of involvement in illegal dealings.

Under the government's national action plan for fighting terrorism, the minister of finance is to give monthly reports on the freeze of financial assets of individuals and organisations suspected of involvement in terrorist activities, and is to block the transfer of property obtained with those assets.

In the wake of the 11 September terrorist attacks in the United States, the Albanian government has tightened control over Arab citizens living in the country. Five people have been expelled since October 2001. Another 223 foreigners lacking valid residency permits have been asked to leave the country.