Trial Focuses on Iran Ties of Kennedy Plot Suspect

A. G. SULZBERGER
The New York Times
July 22, 2010

• A d v e r t i s e m e n t

The trial of two men accused of plotting to attack Kennedy International Airport took an unexpected twist on Wednesday when prosecutors suggested that one of the men, a former government official in Guyana, had spied on behalf of the Iranian government.

The former government official, Abdul Kadir, admitted under cross-examination that in the mid-1980s he drafted reports about Guyana’s economy, foreign policy and military for the Iranian ambassador to Venezuela, which included details like the low morale in the army. The hand-written documents included a “five-year development plan” that made reference to infiltrating the military, police and other government agencies.

Mr. Kadir, testifying in United States District Court in Brooklyn for the second straight day, appeared surprised by the direction of the questioning. He initially denied having been in contact with Iranian officials, but admitted to it after being confronted with the material he had written. Nevertheless he said he was not a spy, insisting he was focused instead on promoting Islam and that the letters he sent included no state secrets but information freely available in the newspapers.

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This article was posted: Thursday, July 22, 2010 at 1:29 pm

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