Lakhani jailed for 47 years by US court Vijay Dutt London, September 13, 2005  |
|||||||
An American court jailed a north London-based Indian-origin businessman Hemant Lakhani, 70, for 47 years for carrying out "horrendous" crimes that included brokering an arms deal for an undercover FBI agent. His arrest over two years ago had shocked the Indian community here. Both, Lakhani and his wife were respected and popular couple and were involved in various charity works. But he was found guilty in April of attempting to support terrorism and illegal weapons brokering after a complex FBI sting that involved intelligence spanning three continents, including Russia. Judge Katherine Hayden told New Jersey District Court in Newark: "There is overwhelming evidence that Lakhani was prepared to sell missiles to terrorists to shoot down aircraft which could have killed hundreds of human beings," she said. "He illustrated a single-minded greed and determination to profit from the arms trade." Lakhani broke down as he addressed the court, pleading for leniency. "You have no idea what this has done to me," he said. "My health is no good, I can hardly walk, and I do not want to die here in this country. "Me, my wife and my son are a small unit and I wish to get home as soon as possible. Everybody wants to die in his or her own motherland. I am completely exhausted." A jury unanimously convicted him of five charges including two counts of money laundering and importing merchandise into the US by means of false statements after a five-week trial. The prosecution hailed the conviction as a victory in the war on terror. Lakhani's wife, Kusum, also addressed the court, tearfully insisting that her family had no links to terrorist groups. "We are normal people, we have a good life in London, we live normally and we are God-fearing," she said. "Myself and my son are ashamed of this outcome but please consider our name and our family." The prosecution said that while accepting these factors it could not be ignored that Lakhani had committed horrendous crimes that could have had dire consequences for hundreds of innocent people. |
|||||||
|
|||||||