Syrian Shipowner Sentenced to 18 Months in UK Jail

A UK court has issued an arrest warrant for a Syrian shipowner, sentencing him to 18 months for providing false statements to the court. Abdul Jalil Mallah has been sanctioned due to his connections with Iran and the Houthis in Yemen.

Oaktree Capital Management took Mallah, 49, to court in London to reclaim two bulk carriers they had financed for him, after terminating the agreement once he was placed under sanctions.

Judge Sara Cockerill concluded that Mallah "quite deliberately lied to the court" during the case, offering "multiple false statements," including forged documents. The judge also ordered the seizure of all Mallah’s assets in the UK.

One of the disputed vessels, the Amethyst, was repossessed in Sharjah, while the other, the Courage, continued to Syrian waters where Mallah is currently located.