DATE=7/30/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-217878
TITLE=U-S/SAUDI SUSPECT (L)
BYLINE=JIM MALONE
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
/// RE-ISSUING TO ADD CR NUMBER ///
INTRO: A SUSPECT IN LAST YEAR'S BOMBING IN SAUDI ARABIA WHICH
KILLED 19 U-S SERVICEMEN AND WOUNDED HUNDREDS OF OTHERS ENTERED A
PLEA OF NOT GUILTY IN WASHINGTON WEDNESDAY IN CONNECTION WITH
ANOTHER, UNRELATED TERRORIST ACT THAT WAS NEVER CARRIED OUT.
WEDNESDAY'S COURT ACTION SHATTERED A PLEA AGREEMENT HANI AL
SAYEGH REACHED WITH U-S OFFICIALS LAST MONTH. BUT, AS V-O-A
CORRESPONDENT JIM MALONE REPORTS, THERE MAY STILL BE A CHANCE HE
WILL COOPERATE WITH U-S PROSECUTORS INVESTIGATING LAST YEAR'S
BOMBING OF THE KHOBAR TOWERS HOUSING COMPLEX IN SAUDI ARABIA.
TEXT: HANI AL SAYEGH WAS BROUGHT TO THE UNITED STATES FROM
CANADA IN EARLY JUNE AFTER HE REACHED AN AGREEMENT WITH U-S LAW
ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS TO TELL WHAT HE KNOWS ABOUT THE KHOBAR
TOWERS BOMBING. CANADIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS SAY MR. AL
SAYEGH WAS THE LOOKOUT WHO SIGNALLED THE DRIVER OF A TRUCK LADEN
WITH EXPLOSIVES WHEN TO PULL UP IN FRONT OF THE KHOBAR TOWERS
COMPLEX HOUSING U-S SOLDIERS NEAR DHAHRAN, SAUDI ARABIA.
MR. AL SAYEGH WANTS TO AVOID DEPORTATION TO SAUDI ARABIA WHERE HE
FEARS EXECUTION AS A SAUDI DISSIDENT. HE INITIALLY AGREED TO
PLEAD GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY CHARGES IN CONNECTION WITH ANOTHER
TERRORIST PLOT TARGETING AMERICANS THAT WAS NEVER CARRIED OUT.
BUT ON WEDNESDAY IN U-S DISTRICT COURT HERE IN WASHINGTON, HIS
ATTORNEY SAID THE EARLIER PLEA AGREEMENT WAS INVALID AND MR. AL
SAYEGH INSTEAD ENTERED A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY. HE HAS NOT BEEN
CHARGED IN CONNECTION WITH THE KHOBAR TOWERS BOMBING.
FRANK CARTER IS HANI AL SAYEGH'S DEFENSE ATTORNEY.
/// CARTER ACT. ///
THIS IS A CASE WHERE HE HAS MADE STATEMENTS TO THE
UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT. THE CONTENT OF THOSE
STATEMENTS WILL BE THE SUBJECT OF (LEGAL) MOTIONS (IN
COURT). WE HAVE ENTERED A PLEA OF NOT GUILTY. WE BELIEVE
THAT IS HE NOT GUILTY OF ANY CONSPIRACY TO HARM
AMERICANS, WHICH IS THE CHARGE HE IS FACING IN THIS
COURT.
/// END ACT. ///
GOVERNMENT PROSECUTORS SAY MR. AL SAYEGH'S ACTION IS A BREACH OF
THE PLEA AGREEMENT UNDER WHICH HE WAS BROUGHT TO THE UNITED
STATES FROM CANADA.
MR. AL SAYEGH WAS ORDERED HELD WITHOUT BOND IN A WASHINGTON JAIL
UNTIL HIS TRIAL ON NOVEMBER THIRD. BUT THE POSSIBILITY REMAINS
THAT MR. AL SAYEGH COULD STILL TRY TO CUT A DEAL WITH PROSECUTORS
TO TELL WHAT HE KNOWS ABOUT THE KHOBAR BOMBING IN EXCHANGE FOR
ASSURANCES HE WILL NOT BE RETURNED TO SAUDI ARABIA. ATTORNEY
FRANK CARTER SAYS A RECENT ATTEMPT TO RENEGOTIATE THE PLEA
AGREEMENT FAILED.
HIS ATTORNEY SAYS IF THE TRIAL GOES FORWARD AND HANI AL SAYEGH IS
FOUND NOT GUILTY, HE MIGHT APPLY FOR POLITICAL ASYLUM HERE IN THE
UNITED STATES OR HE MIGHT GO TO A THIRD COUNTRY WILLING TO TAKE
HIM. (SIGNED)
NEB/JBM/WFR
30-Jul-97 1:34 PM EDT (1734 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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