Yemeni student arrested in US after FBI probe reveals alleged Houthi ties
November 15, 2019, 11:22 am

Yemeni student arrested in US after FBI probe reveals alleged Houthi ties

Photographs including this one were supplied as evidence by the FBI that al-Wazer had lied about his connection to the Iran-backed Houthis.

A Yemeni student was arrested in the US late last week after a three-year investigation by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force uncovered his alleged ties with the Iran-backed Houthi militia, a court document seen by Al Arabiya English shows.

Gafaar Mohammed Ibrahim al-Wazer, 25, was arrested in Altoona, Pennsylvania, on November 7 and has been charged with making false statements to the US Department of Homeland Security during his applications for a student visa.

According to a 35-page criminal complaint document filed by the FBI and seen by Al Arabiya English, US authorities began investigating al-Wazer in 2016 after Drexel University alerted them to several Facebook photos and posts allegedly showing the Yemeni student’s involvement and training with the Houthi militia in Yemen.

The court document states that al-Wazer claimed during his application for a student visa in 2014, and again when applying for temporary protected status in 2015, that he was not involved with the Houthi militia and had never fired a weapon nor ever received militia training.

Investigators argue that al-Wazer’s Facebook posts show these statements were false – despite al-Wazer swearing on them under penalty of perjury.

One photograph allegedly shows al-Wazer with a rifle among a group of men, while another depicts him sitting in a car with another person, both holding AK-47s. A third picture allegedly shows the Yemeni student standing next to an unidentified man with the Houthi slogan “God is Greatest, Death to America, Death to Israel, Curse on the Jews, Victory to Islam” pasted on the photograph.

The court evidence also included a photo allegedly of al-Wazer with a group of men holding an AK-47, and another in which he appears to be holding a rocket-propelled grenade launcher alongside other men, one of whom is holding a flag with the Houthi slogan, pictured at the top of this article.

According to the criminal complaint filed by US Homeland Security Investigations agent David Bottalico, al-Wazer also attempted to recruit an individual into the group online.

The Iran-backed Houthi militia is designated as a terrorist organization by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Its militia ousted the internationally-recognized government of Yemen from the capital Sanaa in 2014 and is fighting the Arab Coalition for control of the country. It has also carried out numerous rocket attacks against the Kingdom. The militia is not designated as a terrorist group in the US, but President Donald Trump’s administration has reportedly considered doing so.

Although al-Wazer denied his alleged links to and training with the Houthis when asked by FBI agents, he admitted that he “hates Saudi Arabia.” In online posts cited in the affidavit, he accused Saudi Arabia of being “a tool in the hands of the Christians and the Jews” and claimed the US is “responsible for all crimes.”

Al-Wazer was a student at Drexel University in Philadelphia when investigations began, but is currently a student at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson, Pennsylvania. Al Arabiya English also saw a now-deleted LinkedIn profile that listed al-Wazer’s most recent job as an Uber driver and a CV that said he was a student looking for accounting internships.

He is currently in custody and will face trial in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.

source:Ismaeel Naar

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the company’s headquarters in the Seef District.
During the meeting, shareholders approved all items listed on the agenda, including the ratification of the minutes of the previous AGM held on 26 March 2024. The session reviewed and approved the Board’s Annual Report on the company’s activities and financial performance for the fiscal year ended 31 December 2024, and the shareholders expressed their satisfaction with the company’s operational and financial results during the reporting period.
The meeting also reviewed the Independent External Auditor’s Report on the company’s consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2024. Subsequently, the shareholders approved the audited financial statements for the fiscal year. Based on the Board’s recommendation, the shareholders approved the distribution of a cash dividend equivalent to 10% of the paid-up share capital.
Furthermore, the shareholders endorsed the allocation of a total amount of BD 172,500 as remuneration to the members of the Board for the year ended 31 December 2024, subject to prior clearance by related authorities.
The extension of the current composition of the Board was approved, which includes ten members and one CBB observer, for a further six-month term, expiring in September 2025, pending no objection from the CBB.
The meeting reviewed and approved the Corporate Governance Report for 2024, which affirmed the company’s full compliance with the corporate governance directives issued by the CBB and other applicable regulatory frameworks. The AGM absolved the Board Members of liability for any of their actions during the year ending on 31st December 2024, in accordance with the Commercial Companies Law.
In alignment with regulatory requirements, the session approved the reappointment of Ernst & Young (EY) as the company’s External Auditors for the fiscal year 2025, covering both the parent company and its subsidiaries—Sinnad and Bahrain FinTech Bay. The Board was authorised to determine the external auditors’ professional fees, subject to approval from the CBB, and the meeting concluded with a discussion of any additional issues as per Article (207) of the Commercial Companies Law.
Speaking on the company’s performance, Mr. Mohamed Al Bastaki, Chairman BENEFIT , stated: “In terms of the financial results for 2024, I am pleased to say that the year gone by has also been proved to be a success in delivering tangible results. Growth rate for 2024 was 19 per cent. Revenue for the year was BD 17 M (US$ 45.3 Million) and net profit was 2 Million ($ 5.3 Million).

Mr. Al Bastaki also announced that the Board had formally adopted a new three-year strategic roadmap to commence in 2025. The strategy encompasses a phased international expansion, optimisation of internal operations, enhanced revenue diversification, long-term sustainability initiatives, and the advancement of innovation and digital transformation initiatives across all service lines.
“I extend my sincere appreciation to the CBB for its continued support of BENEFIT and its pivotal role in fostering a stable and progressive regulatory environment for the Kingdom’s banking and financial sector—an environment that has significantly reinforced Bahrain’s standing as a leading financial hub in the region,” said Mr. Al Bastaki. “I would also like to thank our partner banks and valued customers for their trust, and our shareholders for their ongoing encouragement. The achievements of 2024 set a strong precedent, and I am confident they will serve as a foundation for yet another successful and impactful year ahead.”
Chief Executive of BENEFIT; Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi commented, “The year 2024 represented another pivotal chapter in BENEFIT ’s evolution. We achieved substantial progress in advancing our digital strategy across multiple sectors, while reinforcing our long-term commitment to the development of Bahrain’s financial services and payments landscape. Throughout the year, we remained firmly aligned with our objective of delivering measurable value to our shareholders, strategic partners, and customers. At the same time, we continued to play an active role in enabling Bahrain’s digital economy by introducing innovative solutions and service enhancements that directly address market needs and future opportunities.”
Mr. AlJanahi affirmed that BENEFIT has successfully developed a robust and well-integrated payment network that connects individuals and businesses across Bahrain, accelerating the adoption of emerging technologies in the banking and financial services sector and reinforcing Bahrain’s position as a growing fintech hub, and added, “Our achievements of the past year reflect a long-term vision to establish a resilient electronic payment infrastructure that supports the Kingdom’s digital economy. Key developments in 2024 included the implementation of central authentication for open banking via BENEFIT Pay”
Mr. AlJanahi concluded by thanking the Board for its strategic direction, the company’s staff for their continued dedication, and the Central Bank of Bahrain, member banks, and shareholders for their valuable partnership and confidence in the company’s long-term vision.