Jabir Moti, described as a “senior member” and “top lieutenant” of organised crime and terror network D-Company, was on Tuesday denied bail on charges of money laundering and extortion by a UK court after the judge concluded that he was a flight risk.
The 51-year-old Pakistani national, who appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates’ Court here on Tuesday after being arrested by Scotland Yard’s Extradition Unit last week, faces extradition to the US following an FBI investigation dating back to 2005, the court was told. The D Company refers to the network of the underworld don and India’s one of the most wanted terrorists Dawood Ibrahim. The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said Moti faces allegations of conspiracy to launder money and extortion that link up to terrorist offences as well as charges of drug trafficking, which carries a maximum sentence of 25 years behind bars.
The accused, referred to in court as Jabir Siddiq Moti, was remanded in custody to appear before the same court via video link from jail next Tuesday, when he can make a further application for bail.
“I am not persuaded to grant you bail. These are very, very serious allegations… there are substantial grounds to believe you will fail to appear before the court or commit further offences,” Judge Margot Coleman said in her ruling.
“The US is a democracy, which runs on the rule of law and we function on a system of mutual trust between our countries. So, if they say there is evidence to support the allegations, I am entitled to take that at face value,” she said, in reference to the US authorities’ extradition request.