Lashkar terrorist jailed for money laundering

A court here has convicted Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Bilal Ahmed Quta of money laundering and waging war against India and sentenced him to seven years in jail, said the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday.

Principal City Civil and Sessions Judge Shivashankar Amarannavar on Thursday convicted Quta, a Lashkar member during 2001-2007 and operating in Karnataka, said the ED in a statement here.

The court also imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on Quta, alias Imran Jalal, for terror financing and money laundering.

The Karnataka Police arrested Quta from the capital's suburbs in June 2007, and an AK series assault rifle, 200 bullets, five hand grenades and a satellite phone were seized from him, it said.

A chargesheet was subsequently filed against Quta for possessing arms and explosives.

The ED's local office investigated the case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in 2009 and ordered attachment of Rs 38,340 in cash found on Quta. It also booked Quta in 2009 for terror financing and confiscated the money.

The stringent PMLA law allows for a maximum of seven years imprisonment and a fine.

--IANS

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