A new scandal hits several countries including an Arab country, after the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists announced reviews of honorary consuls following an investigation by the consortium and the “ProPublica” organization, revealing many violations committed by honorary consuls affiliated with it regarding money laundering.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists revealed the termination of the status of honorary consuls affiliated with their countries in Jordan, Latvia, and Israel, or that many reviews were conducted for those currently serving.

Notably, the consortium and the "ProPublica" organization announced last year, in coordination with 60 media partners, an investigation regarding honorary consuls, which revealed their exploitation of their diplomatic status in threatening international security and the rule of law; the investigation reached that at least 500 current and former honorary consuls committed many crimes or were involved in controversies during their tenure.

According to the international treaty, honorary consuls receive protection, legal privileges, and immunity from lawsuits, allowing them to transport consular pouches across borders without undergoing inspection.

Who is the Jordanian consul involved in the fraud case?
Meanwhile, the Jordanian Cabinet recently approved the dismissal of the honorary consul in Honduras, millionaire businessman Shukri Kafi, according to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists.

The consul involved in the fraud and money laundering case held the position of honorary consul of Jordan in Honduras for over three decades, and in 2016, a judge clarified the diplomatic status of the millionaire businessman as honorary consul, allowing Kafi to avoid arrest after being detained on charges of fraud and money laundering.

It is worth mentioning that "Kafi" denied committing any violations, confirming that the criminal charges, which were dismissed, were politically motivated.

In addition, the Jordanian Cabinet decided to remove 6 other honorary consuls, headed by Kafi, as a natural procedure for a broader reassessment, according to the official.

Meanwhile, the Honduran Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists’ media partner, Contra Corriente Honduras, that it had not received any official notification of the decision.

Honorary consul exploited his immunity to evade charges of assaulting his wife

In Latvia, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs conducted an investigation with the honorary consul representing Indonesia, who tried to invoke diplomatic immunity to escape accusations of assaulting his wife, and records showed that honorary consul Valdis Tilgalis received a financial fine.

On his part, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Latvia confirmed that the ministry is currently examining the matter in cooperation with law enforcement authorities.

Israeli honorary consuls involved in fraud and money laundering

In a related context, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs launched a review after journalists found several consuls involved in corruption cases and other criminal investigations.

The consortium pointed out that public records revealed that Israel requires its honorary consuls representing foreign countries to be “free of any moral blemish.”

Records clarified that the decision concerning honorary consuls appointed by Israel abroad can be implemented if it is found that they “acted inappropriately.”

Despite the policy governing foreign state representatives, the “Shadow Diplomats” investigation concluded that Israel acknowledged and appointed an honorary consul to represent it who had previously been convicted of fraud charges, and others were accused of corruption, money laundering, diamond smuggling, and rape.

It is noteworthy that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs emphasized that it will study the status of two current honorary consuls, including a key witness in a major corruption case in Africa, while the other exploited his position as honorary consul to prevent police in Italy from searching his home as part of an investigation into illegal political financing.