Businessman 'willing player' in missile plot
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.
