A second son of an Iraqi diplomat was charged yesterday with spying in New York.
Wasim Al-Anbuke, 24, allegedly fed information about two Iraqi dissidents to members of the Iraqi Intelligence Service and then lied about it to the FBI.
| "So I lied? I'm an Arab. It's a cultural thing..." |
His older brother, Raed Al-Anbuke, was busted on similar charges in April. Their father, Rokan Al-Anbuke, was a senior Iraqi diplomat in New York and one of dictator Saddam Hussein's liaisons to the United Nations weapons inspectors. Thomas Nooter, Raed's attorney, said he has been in contact with the father, now a ranking official in the new Iraqi government. "He's pretty angry," Nooter said. "I don't think he knows what he can or can't do. He would like to help."
| For startsies, "Gee, I'm so sorry my kid got involved with this sort of thing! Please be lenient with him!" |
The brothers appeared before Manhattan Federal Court Judge Michael Mukasey and pleaded not guilty. They were detained March 24 on immigration charges and remain in custody. "He believes the truth will exonerate him," said Olivia Cassin, Wasim's immigration attorney. Raed, 28, is accused of providing Iraqi intelligence agents with information in 2001. The agents reportedly operated out of the Iraqi mission in Manhattan and had been sent here to assassinate dissidents.
| "Yes, thank you. I'll take the blindfold... No, no cigarette..." |
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