Follow the Money: Obama bagman is sent to jail over $3.5m payment by British tycoon

James Bone and Dominic Kennedy of the UK's Times Online wrote February 1, 2008, that the "undeclared $3.5 million" from "Iraqi-British businessman" Nadhmi Auchi, has "landed Barack Obama’s former fundraiser behind bars.

"The payment, disclosed in court papers, is the first time that Mr Obama’s long-serving bagman Antoin 'Tony' Rezko, a Syrian immigrant to the United States, has been linked to Nadhmi Auchi, the Iraqi-born billionaire who is one of Britain’s richest men. The relationship is a potential embarrassment for Mr Obama, who has made his opposition to the Iraq war a central plank of his campaign."

Although court papers describe Rezko as a "close friend" of Auchi, and they "are involved in a large Chicago land development together," "it is unclear how long the two men have known each other or whether they were linked before the 2003 Iraq war. Neither side would discuss their relationship."

Additionally, Bone and Kennedy reported that the Times has also "discovered state documents in Illinois recording that Fintrade Services, a Panamanian company, lent money" to Rezko in May 2005.

"Fintrade’s directors include Ibtisam Auchi, the name of Mr Auchi’s wife. Mr Auchi’s spokespeople declined to respond to a question about whether he was linked to this business."