Different interpretation: Officials diverted revenue from arms sales to the rebel

[mehdi 100]

Officials diverted revenue from arms sales to the rebels (An example from Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, 5th edition).


I concluded from the sentence that officials now have more income from dealing with rebels than selling rebels; while at the past trading arms sales comprised sizable proportion for the officials than selling arms.


Another conclusion: Officials now selling arms to the rebels and have revenue in this way.


Which interpretation of the sentence is correct and to the point?

Thank you for your attention.

 

[charliedeut]

IMO, it means that the officials (usually illegally) kept a part of the income of selling guns to the rebels; the money obtained did not go to the same place as the rest of that income (their boss's or superior's or government bank account).

 

[5jj]

Officials diverted revenue from arms sales to the rebels .

This could mean:

1. Arms were sold to the rebels, and (some of) the proceeds were not paid to the person or organisation they should have been paid to.
2. Arms were sold to someone other than the rebels, and (some of) the proceeds were paid to the rebels.