Fw: [Pakistan Post] NYTimes.com Article: 6 Arrested in Illegal Transfer ofTens of Millions to Pakistan

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Arrested in Illegal Transfer of Tens of Millions to PakistanJune 18, 2003By

RONALD SMOTHERS NEWARK, June 17 - Three New Jersey men and three NewYorkers,

all natives of Pakistan, were charged today withillegally transmitting tens of

millions of dollars in cashfrom the United States to Pakistan by using

severalunlicensed money-transfer businesses and failing to filethe required

currency-transaction reports. Over the last 18 months, more than $70 million

passedthrough the operation en route to Pakistan, said aspokesman for

Christopher J. Christie, the United Statesattorney for New Jersey. While the

exact origin anddestination of the money is still under

investigation,prosecutors said there was no indication that the money

wasconnected with terrorism, narcotics or other illegaloperations. Indeed, by

most indications the money appeared to come fromimmigrant neighborhoods in

Brooklyn and Queens, whereseveral unlicensed storefront money transfer

businessesoperate, prosecutors said. They said that those businesses,in turn,

took their funds to a licensed money transferoperation in Iselin, N.J., where a

confederate depositedthe money into that company's bank accounts and

directedthat the money be wired to individuals in Pakistan. The six men were

arrested early today on a criminalcomplaint that grew out of an investigation

by the InternalRevenue Service and immigration and customs agents. Theyall

appeared before Magistrate Mark Falk in United StatedDistrict Court, where it

was determined that three of themwere in the country illegally, prosecutors

said. They face5 or 10 years in prison if convicted on the currencycharges.

Named in the complaint were Syed Azhar, 44, of Morganville,N.J., who is an

officer of Access Inc. of U.S.A., alicensed money transfer business based in

Iselin. He ischarged with transmitting the illegally amassed funds toPakistan

through the Access bank accounts. An assistantUnited States attorney, Marion

Percell, maintained in courtthat Mr. Azhar was a flight risk and asked that he

be heldwithout bail. Judge Falk set a hearing for Friday on therequest. Also

named in the complaint was Ali Cheema, 22, of Iselin,an employee of Access

Inc., who investigators said helpedMr. Azhar prepare phone receipts and

documentation of thetransactions. A Pakistani citizen, Mr. Cheema is a

legalpermanent resident of the United States. His bail was setat $100,000. Umer

Dar, 26, of Bayonne, an employee of Kashmir MoneyInc., an unlicensed money

transfer business in Manhattan,is also named. A naturalized American citizen,

he was heldon $100,000 bail. The three men who were found to be in the country

illegallywere held without bail and could face action by theImmigration and

Naturalization Service. They are FarooqMalik, 39, of Astoria, Queens, who works

at Link to Link, aLong Island City business that is not licensed to

transfermoney overseas; and Umar Mushtaq, 29, and Khurram Farid,30, both of

Brooklyn, who worked for Fast Global

Services.http://www.nytimes.com/2003/06/18/nyregion/18MONE.html?ex=1056970021&ei=1&en=870fa0517e3d1226Get

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