U.S. freezes assets of Syrian firm

[Hellfighter]

U.S. freezes assets of Syrian firm

Treasury Department claims two top officials were acting on behalf of Iraq's Saddam Hussein regime.
June 9, 2005: 1:06 PM EDT

WASHINGTON (CNN) - The Treasury Department froze Thursday the assets of a Damascus, Syria-based firm and two of its top officials, claiming they were acting on behalf of Iraq's Saddam Hussein regime.

SES International Corp., Gen. Zuhayr Shalish and Asif Shalish have been designated by the Treasury under an executive order that "is aimed at blocking property of the former Iraqi regime, its senior officials and their family members and those who act for or on their behalf."

The move freezes any assets located in the United States.

"Zuhayr and Asif used SES as a vehicle to put military goods into the hands of Saddam Hussein and his regime, all while evading U.N. sanctions," Stuart Levey, the Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, said in a Thursday press release issued by the department.

The Treasury Department said SES is owned by Zuhayr and managed by Asif. SES functioned as a "false end user" for Saddam Hussein regime, "helping to procure defense-related goods for the Iraqi military."

"As a Syrian company, SES was able to provide exporters in multiple countries with end-user certificates indicating Syria, rather than Iraq, as the final destination for the exported goods. SES would then arrange for the items to be transshipped to Iraq, which allowed the Iraqi regime to obtain military goods in contravention of U.N. sanctions," the press release said.

The Treasury Department listed these details in its press release:

-- Zuhayr and Asif also "provided personal assistance to Hussein's oldest son, Uday, and to former Iraqi presidential secretary, Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti."

-- "Notably, Zuhayr and Asif reportedly worked at the request of Uday to repatriate Adib Shaban, Uday's assistant, after Adib had fled from Iraq."

-- "According to information available to the U.S. government, Zuhayr was involved in efforts to help Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti flee Iraq during Operation Iraqi Freedom."

-- "There is reason to believe (Zuhayr) offered to help Hussein's younger son, Qusay, leave Iraq."

-- "U.S. government information also indicates that before October 2003, al-Tikriti allegedly transferred large amounts of money to Zuhayr, who in turn earmarked the money as a monthly allowance for Abid Hamid Mahmud al-Tikriti's family."

-- "Since the fall of the former Iraqi regime, SES has employed or supported a number of former regime officials, notably Munir Mamduh Awad al-Qubaisi, the director of the Al Basha'ir Trading Company. Al Basha'ir was one of Iraq's largest arms procurement front companies."

Source: http://money.cnn.com/2005/06/09/news...yria/index.htm

will glade they freeze them accounts.

[BADDOG]

I wonder if this is the first of many diplomatic moves to put pressure on Syria?

Regards