A BBC Bargain Hunt art expert who failed to report a series of high-value art sales to a man suspected of financing militant group Hezbollah has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.
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00:00The aggravating features are that you knew your client was actually subject to sanctions in the USA.
00:06And as well as failing to notify your business with him, you repeatedly took measures to disguise his identity.
00:14This was for no other reason than to defeat the regulations and hide your business relationship to secure financial and reputational gain.
00:24Furthermore, I must deal with you for eight separate transactions over more than a year.
00:30Although I take care to ensure that the ultimate sentence is fair and proportionate while reflecting the totality of the offending.
00:39By way of mitigation, you have no previous convictions and have now lost your good name.
00:46This will be your first experience of custody.
00:49And you have written to me to express remorse, which I am sure is genuine.
00:54The outcome of this hearing will be devastating for you and your close family.
01:01Until these events, you are someone to be admired.
01:05Despite not having any relevant training, you worked hard and carved out a successful career in the highly competitive arenas of art dealing and television presenting.
01:16A number of character witnesses have written to me, describing your fine and honourable character.
01:24And I bear in mind that before you entered the art market in 2019, you had no history of working in a regulated market or professional qualifications.
01:35There is no evidence that any of the pieces you sold are mad were sold on again swiftly at inflated values.
01:43The defendant was, at the relevant time, the owner and operator of Ramp Gallery, latterly Ogeri Gallery in East London.
01:53The successful art dealer, who appeared on Bargain Hunt and the BBC's Antiques Road Trip, was charged with failing to disclose information about transactions in the regulated art market sector on or before dates between October 2020 and December 2021.
02:16U.S. prosecutors say Mr. Ahmed, who of course purchased the artwork with an understood value of around £140,000, was a major Hezbollah financial donor who used high-value art and diamonds to launder money and fund the group.
02:36He is accused of evading terrorism sanctions by using front companies to acquire more than £160 million, which is £120 million, in artwork and diamond services.
02:51A previous court hearing told how the defendant knew Mr. Ahmed had been sanctioned in the U.S.