London couple faces jail for sending £219 to nephew turned ISIS fighter in Syria

A London couple are awaiting sentencing after pleading guilty to financing terrorism by sending funds to their nephew to support him in fighting Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) in Syria.

Mohammed Iqbal Golamaully, 48, and his wife, Nazimabee Golamaully, 45, have both admitted to sending money to Zafirr Golamaully, which could result in a prison sentence.

Nazimabee Golamaully entered her plea at a hearing at the Old Bailey on Monday afternoon, while her husband entered his plea at an earlier hearing.

Both have been granted bail while they await sentencing at Old Bailey on November 10.

The court heard that both knew their nephew Zafirr was fighting for IS when they sent the money, on or before August 13, 2014.

Judge Anuja Dhir QC has ordered that a report on the couple be submitted before their sentencing next month.

“You have pleaded guilty to a serious offence and one that you I am sure appreciate ordinarily attracts an immediate custodial sentence and the question for me will be how long that sentence should be,” she said.

“But your advocate has asked me to order a presentence report, which will give me more information about you and will also give recommendations as to sentence.

“You must not assume because I am ordering a report of that kind that it means that the sentence will be either suspended or not involve a period of custody.”

Nazimabee was arrested on April 2, 2014, while her husband was held on December 8.

Metropolitan Police counter-terrorism chief, Commander Dean Haydon, said: “Any amount of cash sent to terrorists is money which is enabling them to further their hatred and carry out attacks on innocent people.

“So regardless of the amount in question, the counter terrorism-command will identify those who support terrorism and prosecute them where appropriate.”

Last month, two dry cleaners from the West Midlands were convicted under terrorism laws after selling a BMW car and watch on eBay to raise funds for their brother who was fighting for IS.

Mohammed Hussain, 26, and Mohamed Rohaman, 33, from Walsall, were convicted at the Old Bailey in London for raising £10,000 (US$13,000) for their brother, Musadikur Rohaman, a terrorist fighter in the IS-stronghold of Raqqa, Syria.

Hussain was sentenced to four years’ imprisonment, and Mohamed Rohaman to two years and nine months.