Ugandan mother and daughter jailed in UK for funding relative’s terrorism in Syria

Summary:

• Vanessa Atim and her mother, Stella Oyella, were jailed for sending money to a relative who joined Daesh/ISIS. Despite attempts to cover their tracks, they were convicted of terrorist fundraising after a complex investigation. Atim’s trip to Uganda for business led to her involvement in aiding terrorism, highlighting the global effort needed to combat such activities.

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Vanessa Atim, a UK-based businesswoman of Ugandan origin, and her mother, Stella Oyella, have been sentenced to jail for their involvement in sending money to a relative who had joined the terrorist group Daesh/ISIS in Syria. Atim, aged 32, traveled to Uganda in 2015 to promote her application, ProIntern, which facilitates access to internships for university graduates. The Counter Terrorism Police in the UK revealed that Oyella, 53, and Atim arranged for over £1,800 to be sent to Joseph Ogaba, who had left the UK in 2014 to join Daesh.

In July 2022, Syrian authorities reported Ogaba’s death in prison after his capture by Syrian Defence Forces. Investigations revealed that Oyella and Atim were aware that the money they sent was supporting Ogaba’s terrorist activities. They took extensive measures to conceal their actions, routing the money through contacts in Uganda and the Middle East. The Counter Terrorism Command of the UK led a complex investigation resulting in their conviction for terrorist fundraising.

On March 18, Oyella was sentenced to three years’ imprisonment, while Atim received a sentence of three years and nine months. Despite efforts by their defense to portray Oyella as a caring professional of impeccable character, the court found them guilty of aiding terrorism. Their involvement came to light when ports officers detained Atim at Heathrow and Gatwick Airports in March and December 2018, respectively, under the Terrorism Act 2000.

Subsequent analysis of Atim’s seized devices revealed incriminating conversations about money transactions. Further evidence emerged from a computer hard drive linked to Ogaba, recovered by Syrian authorities. The hard drive contained scans of money transfer receipts and images of Ogaba’s activities with Daesh. Investigators reconstructed the timeline of transactions, showing how Atim and Oyella arranged for funds to be collected in the UK before being transferred overseas.

Atim claimed that Ogaba had contacted her from Syria, pleading for financial support to survive. However, the court found that their actions amounted to supporting terrorist activities. Despite assertions that their motivation was not ideological, the judge emphasized the seriousness of their offense in aiding terrorism. Atim’s background, having lived entirely in the UK before her trip to Uganda, contrasted with her eventual involvement in facilitating terrorist financing.

The case underscores the international cooperation required to combat terrorism and highlights the legal ramifications for individuals involved in supporting terrorist groups. Despite assertions of character and intentions, the court’s verdict emphasizes the importance of holding individuals accountable for their actions in combating terrorism and maintaining societal peace and security.