Oulu court concludes trial for Rami Jaber over financial crimes

The Oulu District Court concluded today the trial of Rami Jaber, also known as Prince Rami Al Husseini, who is facing charges of financial crimes. The case, which began in July, was discussed during a morning session, where the prosecutor provided insights into the potential sentencing for Jaber.

Notably, the court had been awaiting information from Germany regarding a previous fraud conviction handed down to Jaber earlier this year. The court received this judgment only two weeks ago, and its implications are significant, as it may influence the current sentence due to the principle of “concurrent” sentences for similar offenses tried in different jurisdictions.

Jaber has already served nearly four years in prison in Germany for fraud, with his sentence having become final in May. The prosecutor argued today that, in addition to the German sentence, Jaber should receive an additional seven months of imprisonment for the crimes under consideration. He is charged with severe accounting fraud and two counts of aggravated tax fraud, allegedly perpetrated as a board member and CEO of RNG Entertainment Oy from 2016 to 2019. It is claimed that Jaber evaded taxes amounting to hundreds of thousands of euros and was responsible for substantial discrepancies in the company’s accounting.

Jaber did not attend today’s proceedings, as his presence was not mandatory. He was represented by attorney Jukka Pentikäinen, who informed the court that Jaber is currently abroad. The Oulu District Court is expected to deliver its verdict by the end of September. Al Husseini has denied all allegations, asserting that he did not intentionally violate the law and did not seek significant financial gain. His defense also suggested that any possible sentence should be mitigated due to his cooperation in clarifying the matter. Later this year, the court aims to commence another trial for Al Husseini concerning additional financial crimes alongside a former business partner, with a hearing scheduled for December. This process may face delays if the co-defendant remains unreachable. Jaber gained notoriety in Oulu around 2015 for his extravagant lifestyle and ambitious film project, and he previously acquired a substantial stake in the local football club AC Oulu, from which he was later removed from the board.