Bargain Hunt star Ochuko Ojiri pleads guilty to terrorist financing offence

The Met previously explained that the charges were made following an investigation into terrorist financing carried out by its specialist arts and antiques unit alongside the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) and HMRC.

Appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court today (9th May), the court heard that Ojiri had sold art to a suspected Hezbollah financier to a value of approximately £140,000.

"At the time of the transactions, Mr Ojiri knew Mr [Nazem] Ahmad had been sanctioned in the US," prosecutor Lyndon Harry told the court (as per Sky News).

"Mr Ojiri accessed news reports about Mr Ahmad's designation and engaged in discussions with others about his designation.

"There is one discussion where Mr Ojiri is party to a conversation where it is apparent a lot of people have known for years about his terrorism links."

Ojiri was bailed ahead of his sentencing, which is due to take place on Friday 6th June at the Old Bailey. He was ordered to surrender his passport and not apply for international travel documents.

"He is not a flight risk," Gavin Irwin, mitigating, told the court. "The fact that he is here – he has left the UK and has always returned knowing he may be charged with offences – he will be here on the next occasion."

Ojiri has been a regular on Bargain Hunt since he first appeared on the long-running programme in 2019 and has also been seen on Antiques Road Trip and 5's Storage: Flog the Lot!.

Meanwhile, he founded London's Ojiri Gallery – previously known as the Ramp Gallery – which specialises in emerging and contemporary artists, and previously owned a vintage shop and art gallery called Pelicans and Parrots.

RadioTimes.com has approached Ojiri Gallery for comment on this story.

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