Judge orders forfeiture of money seized from Muslim cleric el-Faisal

A judge has ordered that just over half a million dollars seized from controversial Muslim cleric Sheikh Abdullah el-Faisal be forfeited to the state.

The order was made today in the St Catherine Parish Court following an application by the Financial Investigation Division under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

The cash, which includes $524,000 and £1,850 was seized by the police during a search of el-Faisal’s St Catherine home in August 2017 when he was apprehended pursuant to an extradition request from the United States to face terrorism charges.

The cash forfeiture comes a week after the Court of Appeal struck out el-Faisal's legal challenge to a ruling by the Full Court, clearing the way for his extradition to the state of New York.

READ: Way now clear for el-Faisal's extradition

Last year, the controversial cleric filed a habeas corpus petition to the Full Court seeking to be released after the parish court ordered his extradition.

But in a unanimous ruling, also handed down last year, the petition was turned down by the panel of three judges who heard the case.

The cleric then took his case to the Court of Appeal.

However, after a year, he did nothing to advance the process.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), which acts on behalf of the requesting state in extradition cases, then applied for the appeal to be struck out saying despite at least two warnings from the court, el-Faisal had failed to meet at least two mandatory requirements. 

The cleric then took his case to the Court of Appeal.

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