Public Prosecutor Freezes Southern Transitional Council Assets

The Public Prosecutor, Qahir Mustafa, has issued an order for the precautionary seizure of all funds and bank accounts belonging to the dissolved Southern Transitional Council, held by banks, financial institutions, exchange companies, and money transfer businesses. The Public Prosecution stated that these measures aim to protect public funds, combat corruption and money laundering, and enable the government to access its domestic and sovereign resources.

Sources indicated that the order prohibits any disposal, transfer, withdrawal, or any legal or physical action concerning the funds subject to the seizure, pending further directives from the Public Prosecution or relevant judicial authorities.

The directive mandates the Central Bank of Yemen, all banks, financial institutions, and exchange companies to execute the order promptly and provide the Public Prosecution with details of all accounts, balances, and funds pertaining to the targeted entity.

The Public Prosecution asserted that the decision is based on sufficient evidence and indicators suggesting a potential link between these funds and accounts and ongoing investigations. It emphasized that precautionary seizure is a temporary legal measure designed to safeguard public funds and ensure the integrity of judicial proceedings until a final verdict is reached.

This development follows a call by the government to the UN Security Council to update its sanctions list to include all individuals and entities proven to be involved in undermining state institutions, obstructing the political process, or imposing unilateral measures by force. The government affirmed its readiness to provide the UN and the sanctions committee with any supporting information or documentation.

Yemen's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Abdullah Al-Saadi, informed the Security Council on Tuesday that Yemeni authorities had taken measures, in accordance with the constitution and law, against several individuals implicated in acts of rebellion, corruption, and gross human rights violations, most notably the head of the dissolved Southern Transitional Council, Aidarus Al-Zubaidi, who is accused of high treason. The government also urged the Security Council to enforce its resolutions against all individuals and entities found to be involved in undermining the political process or threatening peace, security, and stability in Yemen.