TERRORISM FINANCE: SAUDI RESPONSE OF IIRO'S

S E C R E T RIYADH 006467 SIPDIS SIPDIS NOFORN E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/14/2031 TAGS: EFIN KTFN PTER PREL ETTC SA SUBJECT: TERRORISM FINANCE: SAUDI RESPONSE OF IIRO'S AL-MUA'JJIL UNSCR 1267 DESIGNATION REF: A. (A) STATE 127947 ¶B. (B) STATE 06341 (C) STATE 131614 Classified By: DCM Michael Gfoeller for reasons 1.4 (B) and (D). ¶1. (C) Summary: As a result of the August 3 UN 1267 designation of Abd Al-Hamid Sulaiman Al-Mua'jjil (AKA Abdul Hamid Sulaiman Al-Mujil),the Saudi Arabian Government (SAG) has confirmed its prior actions to freeze his assets and restrict his travel. End Summary. ¶2. (S/NF) The Ministry of Interior (MOI) informed U.S. intelligence sources that approximately July 10, 2006 Al-Mua'jjil's bank accounts were frozen and travel restrictions were placed on him. According to the MOI, the SAG does not have enough evidence to arrest or detain him at this point in time. ¶3. (S/NF) The IIRO Eastern Province branch has temporarily closed its offices pending an ongoing MOI investigation. This investigation could continue for a few weeks depending on the extent of the findings. (Comment: This is different than the July 28, 2006 statement from Ambassador to the United States Prince Turki to Secretary Levey that the SAG has shut down the IIRO Eastern Province Branch.) ¶4. (S/NF) In response to reference C, intelligence agencies have informed Ministry of Interior liaison and will inform the Saudi Financial Intelligence Unit at upcoming meetings on August 23, 2006 about Al-Mua'jjil's bank account in Al-Rajhi Banking and Investment Corporation. We also informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) Office of Counter Terrorism of this information. According to Acting Director Ghazi Al-'Anzi, the SAG knows its obligations as a UN member and has taken the requisite actions in this case. ¶5. (C) Other than freezing Al-Mua'jjil's bank accounts and restricting his travel, the SAG does not plan further actions. Bio Note: The Al-Mua'jjil or Al-Ma'jjel clan is well known throughout Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province and has a family branch in Bahrain as well. End Note. OBERWETTER