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Spy suspect was 'doing gas deal' | Spy suspect was 'doing gas deal' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A former British Army interpreter accused of sending secrets to Iran was not spying, but setting up a gas supply deal, he has told a court. | |
Daniel James told the Old Bailey that he wanted to put in place a deal for Afghanistan to buy gas from Iran. | |
He said he remained a loyal British soldier and that those who accused him of being a spy were "mad". | |
Mr James denies charges under the Official Secrets Act that he betrayed Britain for the country of his birth. | Mr James denies charges under the Official Secrets Act that he betrayed Britain for the country of his birth. |
The Iranian-born corporal, who worked for the head of multi-national forces, General David Richards, in Afghanistan, said he hoped to improve relations between the US and Iran by brokering a gas deal, as well as making money for himself. | |
Offering my services as a spy? I am not a spy, they are going mad Daniel James | |
Mr James, 45, from Brighton, told the court: "I said, if I could get another source from Iran, America would pay less and Iran would get business. | |
"It would create trade between the two and it would create peace." | "It would create trade between the two and it would create peace." |
Emails sent to him by the Iranian military attache in Kabul were in fact attempts to set up the deal, he claimed. | |
The 45-year-old was asked to explain e-mails to the Iranian military attache Col Mohammad Heydari, including one which he concluded by saying "at your service". | |
He replied: "This is a courtesy in Iranian culture and it is used very often." | |
'Sexy and important' | |
In another e-mail, the former interpreter described how if he said in future messages that "the weather is cold" it was not safe to be in touch. | |
Mr James explained that he was "trying to make my e-mail look sexy and important, give the impression that I have got great ideas". | Mr James explained that he was "trying to make my e-mail look sexy and important, give the impression that I have got great ideas". |
He told the court that a reference in another e-mail to having pictures of "those whose job is black" was about his interest in black magic. | He told the court that a reference in another e-mail to having pictures of "those whose job is black" was about his interest in black magic. |
Mr James admitted lying to police about the emails, but said this was also because of the stress of being arrested and handcuffed. | |
James added: "I don't know anything about Iranian intelligence, I have never met one, I have never seen one." | |
Colin Nicholls QC, defending, asked Mr James: "Did your loyalty veer from loyalty to Britain to loyalty to Iran?" | |
He replied: "Nonsense. I am still loyal to Britain. I am still a soldier." | |
Asked if he ever collected or communicated information useful to an enemy Mr James replied: "No sir. Nonsense. | |
"Offering my services as a spy? I am not a spy, they are going mad." | |
Secret reports | |
Mr James was asked about a compact disc containing photos of a Predator unmanned surveillance drone. | |
He said: "I have never seen it in my life before. The only Predator I have seen before is Arnold Schwarzenegger." | |
The defendant said secret documents about troop movements and munitions which had been found in his possession had been given to him for translation. | |
He was also asked how he came to have two secret situation reports stored on a USB memory stick when he was arrested in December 2006. | |
James said he was asked to translate the documents, which were sent to him and then downloaded on to the USB by an Afghan interpreter. | |
He told the court he produced a translation into Dari and took it to a meeting of senior officers from Afghanistan, the US and Britain, where it was given to the Afghan officers. | |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |
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