ID :
183940
Mon, 05/23/2011 - 21:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/183940
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Rana trial begins. Prosecution says he provided cover for
Himani Kumar
Chicago, May 23 (PTI) The trial of the Mumbai attacks
co-accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana commenced here on Monday with
the prosecution saying the Pakistani-Canadian provided cover
in the terror plot for his longtime friend David Headley who
took photos and videos of targets in Mumbai before the
carnage.
The trial of Rana is being closely watched worldwide for
what testimony might reveal about suspected links between the
Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) blamed in
the attacks and the country's powerful intelligence agency
ISI, which has been under scrutiny after Osama bin Laden was
killed by US forces on May 2 outside Islamabad.
During opening statements, Assistant US Attorney Sarah
Streicker said Rana provided cover for co-accused Headley, a
Pakistani-American, who took photos and videos of targets in
Mumbai before the attacks and that Rana led Headley to pose as
a representative for his Chicago-based immigration businesses.
Rana (50) has pleaded not guilty but Headley his old
friend from military school in Pakistan pleaded guilty.
Trial proceedings began in Chicago's Dirksen Federal
Building. The arguments in the trial are being heard by a
12-member jury.
Streicker said that Headley would testify at Rana's
trial. Headley is cooperating with the government and may
discuss allegations that Pakistan's government knew or
possibly helped plan the attack that killed 166 people
including six Americans.
But attorneys for Rana, who is also accused of
planning an attack that never happened on a Danish newspaper,
have said their client was simply duped by his longtime friend
and did not know what plot was in store.
Headley and Rana, a Pakistani-born Canadian, met at
one of Pakistan's most prestigious military boarding schools
and stayed in touch.
India is watching the case closely and during the
trial ISI is to come under scrutiny as Rana is expected to
spill the beans on its role in the Mumbai attack.
Rana, who was indicted by a federal grand jury under
12 counts on February 15 last year, is accused of providing
material support to LeT and guiding Headley in scouting the
targets.
Rana's trial is perhaps the most important terrorism
trial to be held in the US.
Rana could reveal ISI's links to terrorists and
details about its specific involvement in the Mumbai attack.
Headley will be the prosecution's main witness against Rana.
Before the trial, Rana's lawyer claimed he was
betrayed by Headley. With the trial getting under way, the US
has approached India to obtain evidence from the
investigations conducted against Rana and Headley.
Rana's First World Immigration Services allegedly made
the travel arrangements for terror operatives to survey
potential terror targets. The case is based on recorded phone
calls, emails, highway toll records and surveillance.
The first charge against Rana is the conspiracy to
bomb places of public use in India. The second is the
conspiracy to murder and maim in India. Rana is further
charged with the murder of US nationals in India.( Rana, along with others, allegedly provided material
support to terrorism in India. He is also accused of
conspiracy to murder and maim in Denmark and providing
material support to terrorists there. Rana allegedly
provided material support to LeT.
The jurors, four men and eight women, have been
selected from a pool of possible 38, and sworn-in after being
questioned by US District Court Judge Harry D Leinenweber
about their understanding and views on Islam, citizenship and
terrorism.
The jury, mostly consisting of minorities like blacks
and Asians, was formed out of 100 jurors that were questioned.
The trial of Rana could reveal ISI's links to
terrorists and any evidence of spy agency's "malfeasance"
would worsen US-Pakistan relations, the New York Times
reported recently.
Headley, who himself is not on trial will be the main
witness against Rana, is set to recount his story of the
Mumbai attack during the trial, it said.
"What he (Headley) discloses could deepen suspicions
that Pakistani spies are connected to terrorists and could
potentially worsen relations between Washington and
Islamabad," it said.
Headley claims that two years before terrorists struck
Mumbai, he began laying the groundwork for the attack,
financed by USD 25,000 from an officer in ISI.
Chicago, May 23 (PTI) The trial of the Mumbai attacks
co-accused Tahawwur Hussain Rana commenced here on Monday with
the prosecution saying the Pakistani-Canadian provided cover
in the terror plot for his longtime friend David Headley who
took photos and videos of targets in Mumbai before the
carnage.
The trial of Rana is being closely watched worldwide for
what testimony might reveal about suspected links between the
Pakistan-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) blamed in
the attacks and the country's powerful intelligence agency
ISI, which has been under scrutiny after Osama bin Laden was
killed by US forces on May 2 outside Islamabad.
During opening statements, Assistant US Attorney Sarah
Streicker said Rana provided cover for co-accused Headley, a
Pakistani-American, who took photos and videos of targets in
Mumbai before the attacks and that Rana led Headley to pose as
a representative for his Chicago-based immigration businesses.
Rana (50) has pleaded not guilty but Headley his old
friend from military school in Pakistan pleaded guilty.
Trial proceedings began in Chicago's Dirksen Federal
Building. The arguments in the trial are being heard by a
12-member jury.
Streicker said that Headley would testify at Rana's
trial. Headley is cooperating with the government and may
discuss allegations that Pakistan's government knew or
possibly helped plan the attack that killed 166 people
including six Americans.
But attorneys for Rana, who is also accused of
planning an attack that never happened on a Danish newspaper,
have said their client was simply duped by his longtime friend
and did not know what plot was in store.
Headley and Rana, a Pakistani-born Canadian, met at
one of Pakistan's most prestigious military boarding schools
and stayed in touch.
India is watching the case closely and during the
trial ISI is to come under scrutiny as Rana is expected to
spill the beans on its role in the Mumbai attack.
Rana, who was indicted by a federal grand jury under
12 counts on February 15 last year, is accused of providing
material support to LeT and guiding Headley in scouting the
targets.
Rana's trial is perhaps the most important terrorism
trial to be held in the US.
Rana could reveal ISI's links to terrorists and
details about its specific involvement in the Mumbai attack.
Headley will be the prosecution's main witness against Rana.
Before the trial, Rana's lawyer claimed he was
betrayed by Headley. With the trial getting under way, the US
has approached India to obtain evidence from the
investigations conducted against Rana and Headley.
Rana's First World Immigration Services allegedly made
the travel arrangements for terror operatives to survey
potential terror targets. The case is based on recorded phone
calls, emails, highway toll records and surveillance.
The first charge against Rana is the conspiracy to
bomb places of public use in India. The second is the
conspiracy to murder and maim in India. Rana is further
charged with the murder of US nationals in India.( Rana, along with others, allegedly provided material
support to terrorism in India. He is also accused of
conspiracy to murder and maim in Denmark and providing
material support to terrorists there. Rana allegedly
provided material support to LeT.
The jurors, four men and eight women, have been
selected from a pool of possible 38, and sworn-in after being
questioned by US District Court Judge Harry D Leinenweber
about their understanding and views on Islam, citizenship and
terrorism.
The jury, mostly consisting of minorities like blacks
and Asians, was formed out of 100 jurors that were questioned.
The trial of Rana could reveal ISI's links to
terrorists and any evidence of spy agency's "malfeasance"
would worsen US-Pakistan relations, the New York Times
reported recently.
Headley, who himself is not on trial will be the main
witness against Rana, is set to recount his story of the
Mumbai attack during the trial, it said.
"What he (Headley) discloses could deepen suspicions
that Pakistani spies are connected to terrorists and could
potentially worsen relations between Washington and
Islamabad," it said.
Headley claims that two years before terrorists struck
Mumbai, he began laying the groundwork for the attack,
financed by USD 25,000 from an officer in ISI.
