Six men charged with attempting to export weapons to Indonesia and to Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka are facing additional charges, federal prosecutors announced Tuesday. Both superceding indictments involve Haji Subandi, a suspected international arms dealer from Indonesia. One adds Thirunavukarasu Varatharasa, 36, to the original indictment of Haniffa Bin Osman, Erick Wotulu and Subandi. The Sri Lankan national was originally charged in Guam last week by a criminal complaint.
| “The additional charges involve the transfer of $425,000 from Malaysia to Baltimore on Sept. 28 and the attempted export of machine guns, grenade launchers, sniper rifles and pistols.” |
The superseding indictment adds money laundering; weapons export and firearms possession charges to the original indictment. The additional charges involve the transfer of $425,000 from Malaysia to Baltimore on Sept. 28 and the attempted export of machine guns, grenade launchers, sniper rifles and pistols. The other indictment adds conspiracy to export defense articles, attempted export and money laundering charges related to night vision goggles which were checked in their luggage onto a flight headed to Indonesia.
Osman, 55, of Singapore, waived his right to an identity hearing on Guam, according to a report Monday in the Pacific Daily News. That cleared the way for U.S. Magistrate Judge Joaquin Manibusan to sign a removal order that would send Osman to Maryland. The six were arrested last week in the two separate cases. The men had met to examine 3 1/2 tons of weapons in transit through the U.S. territory, including Stinger missiles, grenade launchers, submachine guns, sniper rifles and night-vision devices. |