Grocer denies smuggling claims

By NICOLE WILLIAMS
A DANDENONG grocer has been forced to defend himself against claims his store is a front for a people smuggling operation.
Bahar Grocery owner Abdul Siheli said his small Thomas Street grocery store helped support his family and families overseas but was not involved in funding boat trips to Australia.
A story in The Australian on Saturday claimed that up to five businesses trading as hawala (money transfer) dealers on Thomas Street were linked to people smuggling and were under investigation by the Australian Federal Police.
The Australian alleged that hawala dealers in Dandenong skimmed money from transactions to fund boat trips to Australia, as requested by local refugees wanting to reunite family members.
Hawala dealers organise informal money transfers between an international network of brokers although there is no physical exchange of money and the two dealers reconcile records at a later date.
Bahar Grocery on Thomas Street was one of three business named in the story but Mr Siheli strongly denied any links to people smuggling operations.
“I am not linked to any people smuggling or money smuggling,” he said, through a translator.
“I just send some money to help people support their families and I have this business to support my family.”
Alamdar Superstore and Parwaz Travel and Money Exchange, both on Thomas Street, were also named by The Australian as having possible links to people smuggling operations.
Bahar Grocery featured in an ABC1 Four Corner documentary about people smuggling and Mr Siheli said he engaged a lawyer after it was aired.
He said he would speak to a lawyer again about the claims published in The Australian.
“I am not involved, I am just a grocer,” Mr Siheli said.
He said he had small money exchange service, and was currently renewing his AUSTRAC registration to continue as a hawala dealer.
AUSTRAC ensures compliance of Australian money transfer businesses and detects illegal money transfers.
An Australian Federal Police (AFP) spokesperson could not confirm the Dandenong businesses were under investigation.
“However the AFP can confirm that we are aware of, and have an interest in, hawala businesses in the Melbourne area suspected to have involvement in financing people smuggling operations,” the spokesperson said.
“The AFP has a number of significant investigations currently ongoing, continuing to target organisers and people involved in people smuggling ventures in Australia and overseas.”