Uzbek Student in South Korea Arrested for Channeling Charity Funds to Hamas and Al-Qaida Affiliate

South Korean authorities have arrested a 29-year-old Uzbek national accused of diverting charity donations to Hamas and Katibat al-Tawhid wal-Jihad (KTJ), an al-Qaida-linked militant group, officials said Monday.

The Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency, working with the National Intelligence Service (NIS) and the FBI, detained the suspect, identified only as «A,» who allegedly posed as a charity worker for an «Africa well project» while raising funds through eight social media accounts.

Investigators found that «A» collected about 952 mln won ($626 K) in cryptocurrency and transferred portions to wallets linked to KTJ and Hamas. He also promoted extremist ideology online, urging followers to «go out to jihad,» police said.

The suspect, wanted in Uzbekistan for financing terrorism, had been living in South Korea on a student visa and organizing local fundraising activities, including through a community soccer club.

He faces multiple charges under South Korea’s Anti-Terrorism Act, Prohibition of Terrorist Financing Act, and Immigration Act, carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and fines up to 100 mln won. Police are continuing to trace his network and financial transactions.