Two men are on trial in the United Kingdom over allegations that they arranged illegal arms deals involving missile systems and fighter jets for countries including Libya and Sudan, prosecutors told a London court.
David Greenhalgh, 68, and Christos Farmakis, 48, are accused of helping organise the unlicensed supply of weapons between 2009 and 2016.
Prosecutors say the pair were involved in attempts to supply surface-to-air missile systems to South Sudan and fighter jets to Libya during its civil war period.
Both defendants have denied the charges. Their trial has begun at Southwark Crown Court in London.
The court heard that the two men had close links with senior figures in South Sudan. Farmakis was also reportedly appointed as an honorary consul for South Sudan in Greece and Cyprus.
According to prosecutors, the pair arranged a deal for a missile defence system sourced from Ukraine, worth nearly $55 million. The transaction took place between 2009 and 2011, when South Sudan was still part of Sudan and under an arms embargo.
They are also accused of using false paperwork to hide the real destination of the weapons, including attempts to use third-country certificates as cover.
The court was told that further documents and emails suggest possible plans to supply weapons to other countries, including Iran, Iraq, and Syria, in violation of international sanctions.
Farmakis was arrested in 2016 after emails linked to his work account were allegedly used to arrange private arms deals.
The trial is continuing and is expected to last several weeks.
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