Yousser Company for Finance and Investment

Yousser Company for Finance and Investment is a bank that was part of the first Canadian lawsuit against a bank over terrorist funding.

Yousser Company for Finance and Investment
IndustryFinance and Insurance
HeadquartersLebanon
ProductsFinancial services

History

edit

Yousser Company for Finance and Investment[1] is used by Bayt al-Mal to secure loans and finance business deals for Hezbollah companies.[2] The organization is located in Lebanon.[3]

In September 2006, the United States said Bayt al-Mal and the Yousser Company for Finance and Investment served as a bank, creditor, and investment arm for Hezbollah and secured loans and financed business deals for Hezbollah.[4] As of February 2007, Bayt al-Mal and Yousser Company bank accounts re-registered in the name of senior employees of Al-Qard al-Hassan. Further, after Bayt al-Mal's offices were damaged, in the summer 2006, Hezbollah moved some of its financial activity to Al-Qard al-Hassan.[5] In September 2006, Panama suspended the bank's operations in their country.[6]

According to Mr. Stuart Levey, U.S. Department of Treasury's Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence (TFI),"Yousser Company for Finance and Investment functions as Hezbollah's unofficial treasury, holding and investing its assets and serving as intermediaries between the terrorist group and mainstream banks."[7][8]

On July 11, 2008, American Express Bank and the Lebanese Canadian Bank[9] was sued,[10] in New York, for being the correspondent bank to the Yousser Company for Finance and Investment and the Martyrs Foundation.[11] In addition, Canadian citizens filed the first civil action as victims of Hezbollah rocket attacks in a Canadian court.[12][13]

As of January 2020, it is still under sanctions.[14]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Full text of "U. S. V. Lebanese Canadian Bank, Et Al. Amended Complaint"". archive.org. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  2. ^ "Yousser Company for Finance and Investment". Global Fight Against Terrorism Funding | Live and Let Live. 2019-11-15. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  3. ^ "Sanction Search - YOUSSER COMPANY FOR FINANCE AND INVESTMENT". www.sanctionedlist.com. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  4. ^ "Shutting Hizballah's 'Construction Jihad'". www.washingtoninstitute.org. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  5. ^ "Twin Treasury Actions Take Aim at Hizballah's Support Network". www.treasury.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  6. ^ "Bayt al-Mal, Yousser Company for Finance and Investment and Husayn al Shami" (PDF). Superbancos. September 20, 2006. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  7. ^ "Prepared Remarks by Stuart Levey Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence". www.treasury.gov. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  8. ^ "Shutting Hizballah's 'Construction Jihad'". www.washingtoninstitute.org. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  9. ^ Swaby, Nickeesha (2008-07-10). "Lebanese Canadian Bank Accused|Of Helping To Finance Hezbollah". Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  10. ^ "Tamam et al v. Fransabank Sal et al, No. 1:2008cv06156 - Document 59 (S.D.N.Y. 2010)". Justia Law. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  11. ^ Perelman, Marc (18 July 2008). "U.S. Bank Sued for Allegedly Helping To Fund Hezbollah". The Forward. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  12. ^ "Lebanese Canadian Bank faces lawsuit". The Toronto Star. 8 July 2008. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  13. ^ "Lebanese-Canadian Bank sued over bombings". UPI. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
  14. ^ "Publication of the Hizballah International Financing Prevention Act of 2015 Related Sanctions Regulations; Counter Terrorism Designations Updates; Syria Designations Updates". calert.info. Retrieved 2020-01-28.