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London Court Rejects U.S. Bid to Extradite Algerian-Born Pilot on Alleged Terror Links
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District
judge Timothy Workman discharged Lotfi Raissi of all charges
saying he “received no evidence” of any terror links. |
LONDON, April 24 (News Agencies) - A London court has rejected a bid by the
American Government to extradite Algerian-born, British-based pilot
Lotfi Raissi who they claim is a suspect in the September 11
investigation, BBC’s online news service reported Wednesday.
U.S.
officials had accused Raissi, 28, from Colnbrook,
Berkshire
of allegedly training some of the hijackers, but Raissi has always
denied any terrorist links.
On
Wednesday, April 24, a district judge at Bow Street Magistrates Court
said he had seen no evidence to support allegations of terrorism, said
BBC.
Timothy
Workman said: "I discharge the defendant on all eight charges.
"Several
allegations involving terrorism have been made, but I would like to
make it clear that I have received no evidence to support that
contention."
But
James Lewis QC, for the
U.S.
government, said Raissi would "continue to be subject to ongoing
investigations into those associated with the 11 September
attacks".
Raissi
was arrested under the Terrorism Act 2000 at his home on September 21
last year. When no terrorist charges were brought against him after
five months in jail, he was freed on bail.
But
the U.S. Government insisted he was still a suspect and sought
extradition for what they described as falsifying an application to
the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) for a
U.S.
pilot's license, saying Raissi had not declared a previous conviction
for theft and a knee operation.
The
court heard he had been convicted in 1993 of stealing a briefcase and
its contents. He was fined £150 and £30 costs at Uxbridge
Magistrates Court.
Edward
Fitzgerald
QC
, defending, said he was entitled under English law to treat the
offence as a spent conviction.
"There
was no deception because it was as if there were no previous
convictions."
He
said there was no evidence to suggest that if Raissi had declared the
conviction that it would have prevented him being granted a license.
Fitzgerald
told the court that the knee surgery had not been mentioned in the
application for a medical certificate because it had been disclosed in
an earlier application for a certificate.
Outside
court, Raissi's solicitor, Richard Egan, read a statement on behalf of
his client.
"Mr
Raissi has been held for five months on the basis of wholly
unsubstantiated allegations before being released on bail,” BBC
quoted Egan as saying. "Not only that, but he and his family have
had to endure the finger of suspicion being pointed at them.
"At
the very least one would hope for an apology.
"Bearing
in mind the length of time this case has already gone on it is absurd
to suggest there is still an ongoing investigation into Mr Raissi.
"It
is time the whole sorry farce came to an end. It is time his absolute
innocence was recognized."
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