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| Great White North |
| Khadr kiddie called a flight risk |
| 2005-12-24 |
| A Canadian terror suspect alleged to have fuelled al-Qaeda with weapons -- and who has admittedly rubbed shoulders with Osama bin Laden -- was denied bail by an Ontario judge yesterday because he poses a flight risk. "[Abdullah Khadr] has high-level links to al-Qaeda, a terrorist organization without scruples," said Madam Justice Anne Molloy of Ontario Superior Court. "That organization could well assist him in escaping this jurisdiction." She said the 24-year-old, who has spoken publicly about his hope to die for Islam, "is not a person I would trust to abide by any restriction I would impose upon his release." Mr. Khadr, who faces extradition to the United States on charges of conspiracy to murder Americans abroad and possession of a destructive device, stared straight ahead as the judge read her ruling. In the court, his younger brother nervously bit his finger, and his grandmother wiped her eyes. Mr. Khadr will remain in custody until his extradition hearing early next year and is scheduled to appear for a brief remand hearing on Jan. 10. Crown prosecutor Robin Parker said outside the courtroom that she opposed Mr. Khadr's release on all three grounds on which someone can be refused bail: the risk of flight, the chance of committing further offences while on bail, and that their "detention is necessary to maintain confidence in the proper administration of justice." "The allegations [against Mr. Khadr] are extraordinary. It's a rare day in Canada when we see these kinds of allegations being talked about in our courtrooms," she said. "It's a very serious case." Mr. Khadr's defence lawyer said his client, the eldest son of a top al-Qaeda financier, "is obviously disappointed, but it's the early stages and we'll be moving on." Dennis Edney added that he will consider appealing the bail decision. "There are many steps to take so that we can show that Mr. Khadr will get full justice -- and he will in Canada. We have a tradition of justice." An affidavit filed to the court by FBI special agent Gregory Hughes alleges that Mr. Khadr admitted buying $20,000 worth of bullets, grenades and explosive materials for al-Qaeda to use against Americans and coalition forces in Afghanistan in 2003, and admitted taking part in a plan to assassinate Pakistan's prime minister. But in Mr. Edney's final submissions, he argued Mr. Khadr did not pose a flight risk because his family lives in Scarborough and "he has simply nowhere else to go." Ms. Parker also brought up a letter signed by United States Attorney Michael Sullivan that stated Mr. Khadr had bought a fake Pakistani passport for 30,000 rupees ($585) that he believed his sister was holding for him in Canada. |
| Posted by:Dan Darling |