Posted on 04/27/2005 5:53:09 AM PDT by Calpernia
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.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1313753/posts Jetliner missile plot trial begins
Businessman 'willing player' in missile plot
21/04/2005 - 07:41:25
A British businessman accused of attempting to smuggle a shoulder-fired missile into the US was a “ready and willing player” in a terrorist plot, a government prosecutor said at the start of closing arguments.
Assistant US Attorney Brian Howe opened his remarks at the trial in Newark, New Jersey, by reciting a litany of terror-related statements by Hemant Lakhani, who praised the September 11 2001 attacks in a surveillance tape, saying: “Bin Laden has straightened them somewhat.”
“No one else can describe as the defendant does himself … his criminal state of mind and conduct,” said Howe.
Prosecutors say Lakhani, 69, of Hendon, north London, was an aspiring arms dealer when he was introduced to a government informant posing as a representative of a Somali terrorist group in 2001.
Lakhani is accused of agreeing to procure a Russian-made Igla missile for the group, and prosecutors claim he was plotting to smuggle at least 50 more missiles into the US.
Lakhani indicated earlier in the week that he intended to take the stand in his own defence, but ultimately declined to do so.
Instead, the bulk of the defence’s case focused on shaking the credibility of the government’s key witness, Mohammed Habib Rehman, the confidential informant who was instrumental in the near-two-year-long sting operation.
Lakhani’s lawyer, Henry Klingeman, said his client was a victim of government entrapment.
Klingeman has sought to portray Rehman as an unreliable informant who oversold Lakhani to the FBI as a wealthy, well-connected arms dealer. Yesterday, Klingeman questioned FBI agent James Tareco, the case agent in the Lakhani investigation and Rehman’s government handler.
Tareco acknowledged that some of Rehman’s claims, such as Lakhani’s supposed net worth of $300m (€229m) to $400m (€305.4m), were false. He also said he was aware Lakhani’s home had been foreclosed on and that Lakhani had declared bankruptcy multiple times and owed back-taxes.
Klingeman also pointed to Lakhani’s attempt to purchase the Igla missile with a traceable bank check rather than cash as evidence of his lack of artfulness as an allegedly seasoned arms dealer.
“Did you think it was savvy, sophisticated and smart of Mr Lakhani to pay for a missile with a bank cheque?” asked Klingeman.
Howe is due to resume his closing argument today, before Klingeman presents the defence closing. Assistant US Attorney Stuart Rabner will give the government’s rebuttal summation. The case is expected to go to the jury by tomorrow at the earliest.
Lakhani faces a possible sentence of 25 years on charges including attempting to provide material support to terrorists and attempting to sell arms without a licence. He has denied any links to terrorism.
British Man Found Guilty In Weapons Case
April 27, 2005 1:53 p.m. EST
Hector Duarte Jr. All Headline News Staff Writer
Newark, New Jersey (AHN) – A British man was found guilty by a U.S. district court of providing material support to terrorists.
Hemant Lakhani, a British citizen born in India, sold a shoulder-launched missile to an undercover FBI informant posing as an Islamic militant seeking to attack the U.S.
The 69-year-old was arrested in August 2003 after a two-year sting operation.
He was charged Wednesday with trying to provide material support to terrorists, unlawful arms sales, smuggling, and money laundering.
He faces 25 years.
Prosecutors provided videos and taped telephone conversations of Lakhani and the undercover agent making the deal.
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