Asghar Gheshlaghian trial: Businessman denies smuggling and money laundering

Asghar Gheshlaghian pleaded not guilty at Southwark Crown Court

An Iranian man has denied running a money laundering service that paid smugglers to bring migrants into the UK.

Asghar Gheshlaghian, from Woodford Green in east London, operated an unlicensed firm from a business centre, using a sham rug company as a front, Southwark Crown Court heard.

Mr Gheshlaghian, 48, was covertly recorded by the National Crime Agency.

In one conversation he said "70 to 80 percent" of his business was illegal.

The court heard he had also described throwing his phones away in water or in dustbins.

For the prosecution, Michael Bisgrove told the court Mr Gheshlaghian used the Islamic "hawala" banking practice to take money from those seeking access to the UK and paying it on to the smugglers once they arrived.

Hawala

Hawala banking is legal in the UK if carried out with a licence.

It transfers value without the use of a negotiable instrument for the exchange of money.

For example, a US resident who wanted to send money to a person in Pakistan would give a sum to a US-based hawaladar, who would then contact his counterpart in Pakistan.

The ultimate recipient in Pakistan would go to the Pakistani hawaladar and receive his money.

The two hawaladars would then settle their debt with each other.

Source: UK Parliament publications

Mr Bisgrove said the asylum seekers arrived between November 2016 and February 2019, hidden in lorries or brought in on small boats.

Mr Gheshlaghian denies five charges including running an unlicensed money transfer service, helping an asylum seeker to enter the UK, and assisting unlawful immigration.

The trial, which is expected to last three weeks, continues.

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