Three businessmen with links to Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad ran companies that shared addresses in the UK with the organisation allegedly behind the chemicals that caused the deadly 2020 blast in Lebanon's capital.
On Thursday, the London High Court ruled that UK-registered Savaro Ltd was liable to pay damages to victims of the Beirut port explosion.
More than 200 people were killed when a shipment of 2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate, which was impounded in Beirut while en route to Mozambique, exploded.
It had allegedly been purchased by Savaro Ltd in 2013.
According to the UK’s Companies House, George Haswani, Imad Khuri and Mr Haswani’s son-in-law Yousef Arbash are all listed as being involved with companies that shared some London addresses with Savaro Ltd.
All three have been sanctioned by the US for their ties to Mr Al Assad but the court papers make no allegations of culpability in the port blast case.
Savaro Ltd, which was incorporated in the UK in 2006, has had five changes of directors, and presently lists Ukrainian businessman Volodymyr Hliadchenko as its sole director.
For a number of years (2006-2021) it has listed Interstatus as its company secretary.
Interstatus is owned by Marina Psyllou, who was previously also a director of Savaro Ltd between October 2020 and August 2021.
Official documents show Interstatus signed filings submitted by Hesco Engineering and Construction, which was incorporated in the UK in 2005 and listed Mr Haswani and Mr Arbash as directors.
Both companies, Savaro Ltd and Hesco Engineering and Construction, were moved between different addresses twice, with paperwork filed on the same days in 2008 and 2011. They have been listed at both Tottenham Court Road in London and Great Russell Street.
Mr Haswani was sanctioned by the US in 2015 for allegedly buying oil from ISIS on behalf of the Syrian government.
Interstatus also acted as a secretary for IK Petroleum, which was directed by Mr Khuri until 2016.
Mr Khuri’s brother Mudalal is also on the sanctions list. He was accused by the US of attempting to source ammonium nitrate months before the Russian freighter Rhosus ― which was carrying the chemicals that later exploded, causing the Beirut blast — docked in Lebanon.
This week's UK court ruling against Savaro Ltd was the first in the case.
The civil suit was filed in 2021 by the Beirut Bar Association's prosecution office and several victims' families.
The case will return to court in April where a decision on damages will be decided.
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
MATCH INFO
Rugby World Cup (all times UAE)
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
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Day 3, Dubai Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Lahiru Gamage, the Sri Lanka pace bowler, has had to play a lot of cricket to earn a shot at the top level. The 29-year-old debutant first played a first-class game 11 years ago. His first Test wicket was one to savour, bowling Pakistan opener Shan Masood through the gate. It set the rot in motion for Pakistan’s batting.
Stat of the day – 73 Haris Sohail took 73 balls to hit a boundary. Which is a peculiar quirk, given the aggressive intent he showed from the off. Pakistan’s batsmen were implored to attack Rangana Herath after their implosion against his left-arm spin in Abu Dhabi. Haris did his best to oblige, smacking the second ball he faced for a huge straight six.
The verdict One year ago, when Pakistan played their first day-night Test at this ground, they held a 222-run lead over West Indies on first innings. The away side still pushed their hosts relatively close on the final night. With the opposite almost exactly the case this time around, Pakistan still have to hope they can salvage a win from somewhere.
EA Sports FC 25
Developer: EA Vancouver, EA Romania
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4&5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3.5/5
