Captive in Canada

Crown to stay charges against four of ‘Toronto 18′

Source: National Post - 15-apr-08

BRAMPTON, Ont. — Prosecutors today stayed charges against four men accused of participating in a homegrown terror cell.

Earlier today, charges were stayed against three of the men after they agreed to abide by certain court-ordered conditions for one year.

Qayyum Abdul Jamal, 45, the eldest of 18 people accused in Canada’s largest terrorist sweep, Ahmad Mustafa Ghany and Ibrahim Alkhalel Mohammed Aboud signed peace bonds, finalizing their cases in a Brampton court Tuesday morning.

The men must adhere to several restrictions including not having contact with the other accused, adhering to a curfew, and not owning a firearm.

Today, charges were stayed against a fourth individual, Yasim Mohamed. The Public Prosecution Service of Canada said it was not contemplating any further proceedings against Mr. Mohamed at this time.

They join three youths, who were arrested in the summer of 2006, who have also had their charges stayed.

Mr. Jamal, once described as a spiritual leader to some of the accused, spent 17 months in jail, 13 of which was in solitary confinement. He was initially implicated in a plot to bomb buildings, but that charge was dropped last September. He remained charged with participating in a terrorist group and providing or receiving terrorist training.

Mr. Ghany, of Mississauga, Ont., had graduated in health sciences from McMaster University in Hamilton and had recently married a woman who is a sister of the wife of one of the accused. Aly Hindy, the imam of the Salaheddin mosque in Scarborough, previously told the media that he felt Mr. Ghany should not have been charged. He described Mr. Ghany as shy, polite, very generous and good at reading the Koran.

Mr. Aboud, who had been characterized by neighbours as a loner, was the last man to be charged.

Last September, the Crown suddenly terminated a preliminary hearing and filed a direct indictment, sending the defendants directly to trial. The defence lawyers charged that the move came out of the state’s concern that some of the accused would be discharged after the preliminary hearing.

Documents outlining some of the Crown’s case against the accused allege that some talked about storming the Parliament buildings and taking politicians hostage while demanding the removal of Canadian troops from Afghanistan and to release Muslim prisoners from federal jails. A Crown factum also says that one member allegedly built a cellular telephone remote controlled triggering device to detonate a bomb.

A publication ban prevents the naming of the remaining accused.

After the hearing Mr. Jamal said he was ready to move on with his life and restore his reputation. He said he was just “winter camping” referring to the allegations that he was at a terrorist training camp with the other men he was charged with.

He also claimed he was tortured and abused during his time in prison.

His lawyer, Anser Farooq, said an inquiry should be held into his client’s treatment.

“People have to be held accountable for what happened to Mr. Jamal and somebody has to look into this.”

Related: Abdul Qayyum Jamal • Ahmad Mustafa Ghany • Ibrahim Aboud • Yasin Mohamed

April 15th, 2008 News | no comments | Email it! |  Print This Post | 96 views