FRI 23 APRIL 2004
Al-Hussayen prosecutors focus on large transactions
By Leif ThompsonArgonaut Staff
The second week of the criminal trial of Sami Omar al-Hussayen concluded Thursday at the U.S. Courts District of Idaho in Boise. The prosecution is in the middle of building its case and detailing al-Hussayen’s financial transactions.
According to news reports the prosecution revealed April 14 that a Moscow bank employee first tipped off the FBI. The unnamed banker said al-Hussayen was receiving and sending large amounts of money.
Al-Hussayen received money from his native Saudi Arabia and donated money to the Islamic Assembly of North America and other Islamic charities.
The transactions were deemed suspicious because al-Hussayen, who has been attending college in the United States since 1997, needed $200,000 in living expenses but received $500,000. The extra $300,000 was given to al-Hussayen by the Saudi Arabian government and some affluent relatives.
The prosecution suggested because al-Hussayen received so much money and donated so much of it to the IANA and other charities, he had financial ties to those charities. The financial ties will later be used to explain his alleged terrorist connection.
The defense argued that al-Hussayen can have and give away as much money as he wants, and do as much charitable work as he wants.
Al-Hussayen, a UI computer science graduate student, was arrested Feb. 26, 2003, on seven counts of visa fraud and four counts of making false statements to the United States for his work on the Web sites of several Islamic charities.
Investigators said al-Hussayen’s work on the Web sites was a violation of his student visa, and he lied to investigators when he said his sole purpose in entering the United States was to study. He faces multiple charges because he signed documents stating his purpose each time he entered or exited the country.
The U.S. Courts District of Idaho grand jury later charged al-Hussayen with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorism, providing material support to terrorism and providing material support to a designated Palestinian terrorist organization, Hamas. The charges were added in second and third indictments. The charges were filed because of subversive material allegedly posted to Web sites maintained by al-Hussayen and a link to a Web site that allegedly supports Hamas.
TODAY
Spring Plant SaleAgricultural Science Building Lawn
9 a.m.
Public lecture: “An Environmental Lawyer’s Perspective”
Agricultural Science Building, Room 106
12:30 p.m.
Ê Honors Convocation, featuring convocation scholar Setha Low, professor in anthropology at UC-Berkeley
Memorial Gym
3 p.m.
Faculty Recital: Torrey Lawrence, tuba
School of Music Recital Hall
5 p.m.
Ê ASUI Student Achievement Awards
University Auditorium
7 p.m.
Borah Blockbuster Series:
“Mona Lisa Smile”
SUB Borah Theater
7 and 9:30 p.m.
Ê Performance: “Pirates of Penzance”
Hartung Theatre
7:30 p.m.
Ê Natural Resources Week Barn Dance
Ag Pavilion
8 p.m.
Ê
SATURDAY
Women’s Center/Kappa Kappa Gamma Fun RunIdaho Commons
8 a.m.
Mom’s Weekend Brunch featuring UI Jazz Choir
SUB Ballroom
9:30 a.m.
Ê Mom’s Weekend photos with Joe Vandal
SUB Ballroom
11 a.m.
Ê Phi Delta Theta Turtle Derby
Elm Street
11 a.m.
Ê UI Flute Studio Recital
School of Music Recital Hall
4 p.m.
Ê Remembering Ernest Hartung
Hartung Theatre
5:30 p.m.
Ê Borah Blockbuster Series:
“Mona Lisa Smile”
SUB Borah Theater
7 and 9:30 p.m.
Ê Performance: “Pirates of Penzance”
Hartung Theatre
7:30 p.m.
SUNDAY
Student Recital: Jimmie Denny,composition
School of Music Recital Hall
2 p.m.
Performance: “Pirates of Penzance”
Hartung Theatre
7:30 p.m.
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