A South African man accused of sending Bitcoin to a group linked to the Islamic State (ISIS) has been granted bail by a Lichtenburg court. Ziyadh Hoorzook will be released from remand prison after securing bail set at 30,000 rands ($1,616).
Hoorzook is facing charges for allegedly transferring Bitcoin worth over 11,000 rands ($600) to an associate of ISIS in Syria. However, the court ruled that the prosecution lacked strong evidence against him, leading the magistrate to postpone the case until March 3, 2025.
Authorities in South Africa claim that Hoorzook knowingly sent funds in Bitcoin to a Syrian organization with ties to ISIS. However, the accused insists he was unaware of any terrorist connections when he donated in 2017 to a group called Al Sadaqah. He argues that he believed it was a legitimate charity aimed at helping Syrians affected by human rights violations.
Hoorzook further explained that Al Sadaqah was widely promoted by Islamic figures as a trusted humanitarian organization, which influenced his decision to donate.
Despite his defense, South African police claim they have strong evidence against him. Investigating officer Warrant Officer John Sithole stated that authorities retrieved digital material from Hoorzook’s electronic devices, including violent content, speeches by former al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and Al Sadaqah advertisements that allegedly promoted terrorism.
“The state’s case is watertight,” Sithole said, asserting that the evidence proves Hoorzook was aware that Al Sadaqah was not a charity and that the funds were intended for terrorist activities.
The case is seen as significant for South Africa’s efforts to be removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list, which includes countries under scrutiny for weak measures against money laundering and terror financing.
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