Posted on 12/22/2004 1:58:03 PM PST by Land_of_Lincoln_John
CHICAGO (AP) Prosecutors want to travel to the United Arab Emirates to interview two former Iraqi intelligence officers they say are cooperating in the case against an Illinois man accused of being a ``sleeper agent'' sent by Saddam Hussein.
The men live in Iraq and worked for the Iraqi intelligence service, one allegedly as the handler for Sami Latchin and one as a supervisor, said Kim Nerheim, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's office. The handler allegedly helped plant Latchin in the United States and met with him in other countries to pay him, she said.
Prosecutors describe the men as material to the case against Latchin but say both refuse to travel to the United States for depositions. Nerheim said she could not comment on what prosecutors want to ask them.
Latchin, 57, has denied being an intelligence operative. He is charged of making false statements to immigration authorities on his U.S. citizenship application.
During a hearing Tuesday, defense attorneys raised safety concerns about traveling overseas for the deposition. One of Latchin's attorneys, Mary Judge, said she wanted affidavits from the men that explain why they refuse to travel to the United States to testify.
U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer told Assistant U.S. Attorney James Conway that she also wanted affidavits from the men before deciding how to rule.
Federal prosecutors say Latchin was a ``sleeper agent'' sent by Saddam's Iraqi intelligence service to lie low for several years before starting work as a spy. They say he previously worked for the intelligence service in Greece.
Under terms of his release, Latchin may leave his suburban Chicago home only to come to court, visit his attorney, receive medical treatment and attend religious services.
The next status hearing in the case is set for Feb. 4.
And yet, the malignant leftists want us to pretend that Iraq has nothing to do with the war on terror and is merely a distraction. Right.
You may wish to add this to your list
ping
Which bodes the question, "How did he get into the country?"
I wonder if he's been to Oklahoma City.
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