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Mumbai attack group aid man given 14 years in prison | Mumbai attack group aid man given 14 years in prison |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A Chicago businessman who aided an Islamic militant group blamed for the Mumbai attack in 2008 has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. | A Chicago businessman who aided an Islamic militant group blamed for the Mumbai attack in 2008 has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. |
Tahawwur Rana was convicted in 2011 of providing material support for the Pakistani group, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). | Tahawwur Rana was convicted in 2011 of providing material support for the Pakistani group, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). |
The 52-year-old was also charged with helping plan an aborted plot to behead staff at a Danish newspaper. | |
But he was cleared of a role in the Mumbai attack, when more than 160 people were killed by gunmen. | But he was cleared of a role in the Mumbai attack, when more than 160 people were killed by gunmen. |
Rana's lawyer, Patrick Blegen, argued for a more lenient sentence than the maximum of 30 years, saying the Pakistani-born Canadian did not present a future risk. | Rana's lawyer, Patrick Blegen, argued for a more lenient sentence than the maximum of 30 years, saying the Pakistani-born Canadian did not present a future risk. |
"Judge, he is a good man and he got sucked into something, but there's no risk that he's going to do it again, none," Mr Blegen said. | "Judge, he is a good man and he got sucked into something, but there's no risk that he's going to do it again, none," Mr Blegen said. |
Prosecutor Daniel Collins argued for a tough punishment to deter others. | Prosecutor Daniel Collins argued for a tough punishment to deter others. |
"There's not much worse than mass murder of this scale," he said of the Danish newspaper plot. | "There's not much worse than mass murder of this scale," he said of the Danish newspaper plot. |
Star witness | Star witness |
Correspondents say the trial gave a rare glimpse into the workings of LeT, which India blames for the Mumbai attacks. | Correspondents say the trial gave a rare glimpse into the workings of LeT, which India blames for the Mumbai attacks. |
At the centre of the trial was testimony by the government's star witness, David Headley, once Rana's close friend. | At the centre of the trial was testimony by the government's star witness, David Headley, once Rana's close friend. |
US-Pakistani Headley had previously pleaded guilty to laying the groundwork for the Mumbai attacks and helping plot the attack against the Danish paper. | US-Pakistani Headley had previously pleaded guilty to laying the groundwork for the Mumbai attacks and helping plot the attack against the Danish paper. |
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Rana had allowed Headley to open an office of his Chicago-based immigration services firm in Mumbai, which Headley then used as cover to scout sites for the attacks. | During the trial, prosecutors argued that Rana had allowed Headley to open an office of his Chicago-based immigration services firm in Mumbai, which Headley then used as cover to scout sites for the attacks. |
The prosecutors also said that Rana had allowed Headley to pose as a representative of his firm in order to gain access to newspaper offices by feigning interest in purchasing advertising space. | The prosecutors also said that Rana had allowed Headley to pose as a representative of his firm in order to gain access to newspaper offices by feigning interest in purchasing advertising space. |
Rana's defence team argued that he had been manipulated and misled by Headley, an old friend from their days in a Pakistani military school. | Rana's defence team argued that he had been manipulated and misled by Headley, an old friend from their days in a Pakistani military school. |
At the opening of the trial, Headley also testified that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency had provided military and moral support to LeT. | At the opening of the trial, Headley also testified that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency had provided military and moral support to LeT. |
Pakistan has denied the allegations. | Pakistan has denied the allegations. |
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