A Montérégie resident accused of participating in a vast conspiracy to illegally sell Libyan oil was finally released on bail, promising that he will not flee the country.
• Read also: Plot to traffic Chinese arms to Libya foiled in Montreal
“Yes yes, I will respect the conditions,” said Fathi Ben Ahmed Mhaouek this Tuesday at the Montreal courthouse.
Detained for two weeks, the sixty-year-old from Sainte-Catherine was visibly eager to regain his freedom following his arrest by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
This is because according to the federal police, the 61-year-old accused tried to export oil from Libya to China under the cover of shell companies, in contravention of the United Nations Act.
“There are restrictions on doing business with certain designated companies in Libya which supply oil, he is accused of having conspired to do business with these companies,” explained Me Marie-Ève Moore of the Federal Crown.
Millions in commissions
According to the RCMP, the alleged plot was foiled before it came to fruition, even though the plan was concrete and involved “commissions of several million dollars each month for the export of oil.”
Arrested two weeks ago, Mhaouek briefly appeared in court. The federal Crown had opposed any release on bail.
However, since then, the accused has changed team of lawyers. Messrs Andrew Barbacki and Sara Abdel-Malik then presented an exit plan, which was accepted by the Crown.
Thus, Mhaouek agreed to wear a GPS bracelet during all procedures, to ensure that he did not flee. He undertook not to apply for a passport and to remain living at his home in Sainte-Catherine.
Monetary bonds totaling $30,000 were also posted.
Finally, Mhaouek undertook not to communicate with his co-defendant of Libyan origin, Mahmud Mohamed Elsuwaye Sayeh.
The latter, who is still wanted, is also accused in connection with a plot to traffic Chinese arms to Libya.
According to the RCMP, this would have contributed to allowing China to interfere in the civil war raging in this North African country, by sending drones with a high capacity of attack and several missiles.
– With the collaboration of Sarah-Maude Lefebvre
