NY JUDGE ALLOWS EXPLORATION IN TERROR FUNDING BY CHINESE BANK

funding for crimesIn an amazing cause, a judge has allowed the victims of terrorist activities by Hama and the Palestine Islamic Jihad to frame lawsuits against Chinese Bank which is alleged to have funded such terror outfits.

In Keren Elmaliach v. Bank of China, the New York SC Justice Barbara Kapnick has ruled that though the banks have no duty to protect non-customers from the harm done by their customers, the plaintiffs had presented facts which were enough to bring forth that even after the state owned Chinese bank was specifically reminded that it was funding terrorism, it didn’t take any action.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of about 50 people who had been either injured in the attacks or were relatives of the dead in the attacks in Israel from 2005 to 2007 by Hamas and Palestine Islamic Jihad.

Facts were presented and accepted that Bank of China had begun providing services to the groups in 2003 while administering accounts registered to one Said-al-Shurafa who is reported to a senior operative in both the terror groups. It was proved that from 2003 to 2007, the bank executed millions of dollars to the terror groups. The transfers took place from the Bank of China’s branch offices in the US.

The plaintiffs are now seeking damages under Israel’s Civil Wrongs Ordinance.

NY JUDGE ALLOWS EXPLORATION IN TERROR FUNDING BY CHINESE BANK

 REPORT BY BIKRAM SINGH RANA