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Jury to deliberate in Hemant Lakhani trial
GG2.NET NEWS [27/04/2005]

THE TRIAL of Hemant Lakhani, the Briton accused of trying to sell missiles to terrorists in the US, is underway, with the jury set to begin its final deliberations in New Jersey.

Lakhani, 69, a London resident, was arrested after presenting a sample shoulder-fired missile to an FBI agent posing as a Somali terrorist. He has denied the charges.

Lakhani`s lawyer, Henry Klingeman, has described his client as a "joke" who "couldn`t finish a deal if his life depended on it". According to him, Lakhani is a victim of entrapment, adding that his client could not have sold illegal arms without the help of a manufactured government plot.

But prosecutors have argued that Lakhani tried to sell arms to at least three countries. They dispute the entrapment claims and say Lakhani agreed to the arms deal "with gusto", offering to sell 50 or more missiles.

Lakhani has denied one count of attempting to provide material support to terrorists and one count of unlawful brokering of foreign defence articles.

He also faces two counts of money laundering, and one count of attempting to import merchandise into the US by means of false statements.

He was one of the three people arrested following an operation by the FBI, UK and Russian intelligence services. He has been held in a New Jersey prison since his arrest in August 2003, following a two-year surveillance operation.

He could be sentenced to up to 25 years in prison if convicted.

The trial, which began five months ago, has been repeatedly adjourned as Lakhani had to undergo surgery for severe artery damage, a double hernia and internal bleeding.