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Lakhani agrees not to press for bail
New York, Sept 11: India-born British arms dealer Hemant Lakhani, charged with trying to sell Russian made surface-to-air missiles to undercover agents posing as Islamic militants, has agreed not to press for bail and will remain in jail.
New York, Sept 11: India-born British arms dealer Hemant Lakhani, charged with trying to sell Russian made surface-to-air missiles to undercover agents posing as Islamic militants, has agreed not to press for bail and will remain in jail.
The court was to hear his bail application today, the second anniversary of terrorist attacks on the us, and his lawyers were pressing his case for bail.
Judge Susan Wigenton, according to court sources, had ruled on Tuesday that no combination of money and security could "reasonably" assure the appearance of Lakhani in the court. At his last hearing earlier this month, the defence lawyers had demanded that prosecution present a witness directly linking Lakhani to the crime and the judge had given the prosecutors time to do so. The defence had said Lakhani could live under house arrest after posting one million dollar bail.
US attorney Christopher Christie had argued on September 4 that Lakhani should not be granted bail as he was a flight risk and also a danger to the community.
Christie had said Lakhani can be heard on more than 150 covertly recorded conversations and also in some videotapes and told the court that an FBI agent would be called to give evidence. Two others are also charged with money laundering in this case. Of them, 75-year-old Yehuda Abraham was released on a ten million dollars bail but Moinudden Ahmed Hameed, an Indian citizen, remains in jail.
Lakhani was arrested in Newark, New Jersey, on August 12 in a sting operation after he allegedly managed to get into the United States what he believed was a missile and prosecution said he intended to sell it to undercover agents who were posing as Islamic terrorists for brining down an American airliners.
But the Russian from whom he bought the missile was also an undercover agent and the missile which was brought into the United States was a dud.
However, Lakhani had allegedly told the Russian agent, who posed a disgruntled military officer, that he wanted to purchase 50 missiles.
If convicted, he could get 15 years in prison and a fine of 250,000 dollars on terrorism related charges. Bureau Report
Judge Susan Wigenton, according to court sources, had ruled on Tuesday that no combination of money and security could "reasonably" assure the appearance of Lakhani in the court. At his last hearing earlier this month, the defence lawyers had demanded that prosecution present a witness directly linking Lakhani to the crime and the judge had given the prosecutors time to do so. The defence had said Lakhani could live under house arrest after posting one million dollar bail.
US attorney Christopher Christie had argued on September 4 that Lakhani should not be granted bail as he was a flight risk and also a danger to the community.
Christie had said Lakhani can be heard on more than 150 covertly recorded conversations and also in some videotapes and told the court that an FBI agent would be called to give evidence. Two others are also charged with money laundering in this case. Of them, 75-year-old Yehuda Abraham was released on a ten million dollars bail but Moinudden Ahmed Hameed, an Indian citizen, remains in jail.
Lakhani was arrested in Newark, New Jersey, on August 12 in a sting operation after he allegedly managed to get into the United States what he believed was a missile and prosecution said he intended to sell it to undercover agents who were posing as Islamic terrorists for brining down an American airliners.
But the Russian from whom he bought the missile was also an undercover agent and the missile which was brought into the United States was a dud.
However, Lakhani had allegedly told the Russian agent, who posed a disgruntled military officer, that he wanted to purchase 50 missiles.
If convicted, he could get 15 years in prison and a fine of 250,000 dollars on terrorism related charges. Bureau Report