Man used Bitcoin to fund terrorism activities of Daesh, Birmingham court hears

A COURT in Birmingham has heard that a man used Bitcoin to fund terrorism activities of Daesh.

Hisham Chaudhary, 28, of Chestnut Drive, Oadby, Leicestershire, is also accused of spreading propaganda online.

He denied four counts of disseminating a terrorist publication, one count of membership of a proscribed organisation and two counts of funding terrorism at the Birmingham Crown Court, reported the BBC.

As the prosecution opened its case, the court heard Chaudhary had produced a "jihad" video, described as "a sinister call-to-arms", to fight non-believers - which was then spread around the world through the internet, it added.

The court also heard claims there was a "humanitarian purpose" behind the money was a "smokescreen".

Chaudhary raised money and converted it to Bitcoin, which he used to send funds to Daesh.

During the hearing, electronic records proved that Chaudhary had bought more than £50,000 worth of Bitcoin, and then discussed how to transfer it secretly around the world.

According to the prosecution, when Chaudhary was arrested in a dawn raid, anti-terrorist police found devices in his bedroom containing what were described as Daesh propaganda videos.

He also posted some videos online using the name "John Smith".

"You may hear claims there was a humanitarian purpose behind the money but this is a smokescreen. If that was the case, why not send the money to an NGO like the Red Cross or Red Crescent," Prosecutor Simon Davis told the BBC.

"Why the need to spend so much time creating and disseminating those videos?"

The trial is expected to last up to three weeks, the report added.