September 11 acquitted pilot sues FBI

BT Openworld News ^ | September 16 2003 | Reuters

[Winniesboy]

LONDON (Reuters) - A pilot who spent five months in Belmarsh prison accused of training September 11 hijackers has filed $10 million (6.3 million pounds) claims against both the FBI and U.S. Justice Department for ruining his life, his lawyer says.

Lotfi Raissi, a British-based Algerian who studied at a flight school in Arizona, was arrested in London 10 days after the September 11, 2001 attacks and held at the high-security Belmarsh prison.

Washington accused Raissi, 29, of training some of the hijackers. But he was later cleared of wrongdoing by a British judge, who said U.S. officials had failed to present any evidence to back up accusations that he had links to terrorism.

Lawyer Jules Carey in London said Raissi`s legal team had filed claims with the Justice Department and the FBI in the United States seeking damages for wrongful prosecution and imprisonment.

Even though the allegations against him were proved false, no airline will now employ Raissi as a pilot, Carey said.

"The consequences for Mr Raissi have been utterly ruinous," he said. "His entire life, both personal and professional has been blighted by the allegations and it is time for the US and UK authorities to acknowledge their part in his undoing."

A spokesman for the FBI said he was aware that the claims had been filed but could not comment on pending litigation.

Raissi also plans to seek claims against British police and prosecutors, but those cases were still in the preparatory phase and had yet to be filed, Carey said.

[sheltonmac]

Washington accused Raissi, 29, of training some of the hijackers. But he was later cleared of wrongdoing by a British judge, who said U.S. officials had failed to present any evidence to back up accusations that he had links to terrorism.

And Mr. Ashcroft wonders why people are a bit nervous about the Patriot Act.

[jimbokun]

Give him the money. If they had no evidence, 5 months was too long to hold him. Sheer incompetence. Heads should roll.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"U.S. officials had failed to present any evidence"

Guess a computer randomly generated his name...

[At _War_With_Liberals]

"U.S. officials had failed to present any evidence"

Guess a computer randomly generated his name...

[At _War_With_Liberals]

He happened to take lessons with 4 different hijackers in multiple places.

He is guilty, but they could not prove a link to Al Qaeda.

His defenders are all left wing tools.

[sheltonmac]

Guess a computer randomly generated his name...

...TUTTLE...
...BUTTLE...

(Guess you have to be a Brazil fan to get that one!)

[billbears]

Wait a minute. You need evidence now? When did this happen? A whole war was started without much evidence, what's one guy spending five months in jail without evidence?

[observer5]

It just means they either didn't have evidence, but intelligence, or they didn't want to share the evidence. The guy coul dbe guilty as hell...

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Guilty as hell.

[dead]

We're all in this together.

[cardinal4]

Its amazing how quick people are to blame America under the auspices of John Ashcroft or the patriot act. Am I to understand that an arab trained 4 of the 19 hijackers and knows nothing of their intent? Out of all the flight schools in the US these 4 go to one taught by another arab? I can see one, maybe, but 4? Ill wait till I hear more before I blame America first. Thas what liberals do, Blame America first.

[cardinal4]

But he was later cleared of wrongdoing by a British judge, who said U.S. officials had failed to present any evidence to back up accusations that he had links to terrorism.

In addition, it says he was cleared on the basis that no evidence had been supplied. Not that he was found innocent. Im assuming this is to protect intelligence sources.

[William Tell]

cardinal4 said: "In addition, it says he was cleared on the basis that no evidence had been supplied. Not that he was found innocent. Im assuming this is to protect intelligence sources."

There is no legal US process to find someone "innocent". Every acquittal represents a finding by a jury of, at best for the defense, "not guilty". ( Britain may have a verdict of "not proven"; I'm not sure.)

If you grant that there is an innocent Muslim anywhere in the US who has a connection to flight training, then you might agree that other Muslims who intend harm to the US might seek that person out, expecting that they will suffer no prejudice in their treatment at the hands of that person. This would aid their plans without a presumption of any wrongdoing on the part of the innocent Muslim.

As for protecting intelligence sources, that kind of decision might be justified. But the cost of imprisoning someone and then producing no evidence should be full liability for the damages done.

I seem to recall the FBI persecuting Richard Jewell for a crime he did not commit and for which the FBI had no evidence.

And the BATFE routinely persecutes people for keeping and bearing arms.

Why would a guilty Muslim hesitate to involve an innocent Muslim in their activities?

[cardinal4]

If you grant that there is an innocent Muslim anywhere in the US who has a connection to flight training, then you might agree that other Muslims who intend harm to the US might seek that person out, expecting that they will suffer no prejudice in their treatment at the hands of that person. This would aid their plans without a presumption of any wrongdoing on the part of the innocent Muslim.

But the judge stated that the US had offered no evidence, none. That doesnt mean hes innocent. And Richard Jewell was never imprisoned for any length of time. Although Ill grant you his treatment was deplorable and represetative of the complete destruction of the Justice department under Clinton. I just wont rush to blame America until I have all the facts. If this guy is indeed innocent, give him a job flying for the Forest srvice or something. But I just dont trust Arabs with Pilots licenses who trained other arabs with Pilots licenses who just happened to hijack airliners and kill 3000 of our citizens. Fair? probably not, but I would be a lot more concerned if an American of any other descent than arab was held like this.

[Arpege92]

"He happened to take lessons with 4 different hijackers in multiple places."

What are the odds on that happening.....this guy sounds suspicious.

[At _War_With_Liberals]

Thas what liberals do, Blame America first.

Without doing any research, Repubs(?) here call for his head on spikes!

If anyone does not think that the media is eroding Bush, let them take note.