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| Secrets Found on Computer, FBI Says |
| 2003-10-16 |
| Edited for new stuff: Authorities have found classified material on a personal computer that once belonged to a civilian interpreter at the U.S. Navy prison in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, an FBI agent said in federal court Wednesday. Testifying in a detention and probable cause hearing for Ahmed F. Mehalba, Special Agent John Van Kleef of Boston’s Joint Terrorism Task Force said an analysis of the computer’s hard drive revealed at least five documents labeled "secret," in a directory of files that included Mehalba’s personal résumé. They were tipped off when under "Seeking Position As" on his resume, he listed "Spy". A naturalized U.S. citizen who was working at the detention facility for alleged al Qaeda and Taliban fighters, Mehalba was charged Sept. 30 with making false statements to federal officials after he denied during an airport customs check that he was carrying classified documents. He was arrested Sept. 29 at Boston’s Logan International Airport after he allegedly told Homeland Security and FBI agents that the more than 130 computer discs he was carrying contained personal MP3s and photographs, which had been recorded using a computer he had since sold to a friend. Mehalba had arrived in Boston after visiting "I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you" Mehalba was in possession of a "huge amount of classified information," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Ricciuti, who is prosecuting the case. "His statements [to federal agents] were false." Mehalba, who did not testify Wednesday, said at the time of his arrest that he "had no idea" how the suspect documents ended up in his possession, according to Van Kleef. A more thorough check of Mehalba’s baggage turned up the computer disc that contained at least 368 files marked "Secret" or "Secret/Noforn," meaning that they were not to be disclosed to foreign nationals. One file could be a honest mistake, 2 or 3 could just be sloppy work, 368 means go directly to jail. Van Kleef testified that Mehalba, an employee of government contractor Titan Corp., had been granted "interim secret clearance," a designation that granted him access to information that could do "serious damage to national security" if disclosed. "Interim secret clearance", they were in such a hurry to get interpreters they gave him the job after a quick check, full investigation to be completed at a later date. Mehalba, who had served in the U.S. Army, had been briefed extensively on procedures related to the handling of classified material, according to court documents. His U.S. Army service is why he got the interim clearance, I’ll wager. He was aware that he was not authorized to download such information or take it off the base or outside the country, prosecutors contended. Yup, they beat it into your head. Been there. After the hearing, Mehalba’s court-appointed attorney, Michael Andrews, offered no explanation for how the suspect documents ended up in his client’s possession, saying only that "when he was asked the question, ’Do you have classified documents on you?’ and he said, ’No,’ he believed he was answering truthfully." "Oh, I thought you meant did I have any on my person. You didn’t ask if I had any files anywhere. It was a trick question, I was framed!" |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #3 Just goes to show that you should answer the lady at the counter trufully when they ask if your bags have remained in your posession. This guy will go to jail mumbling, " never should have used the sky cap..." |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2003-10-16 12:52:15 PM |
| #2 "I slipped in the shower and the files fell into my hard drive. Damndest thing I ever saw." "A virus put them there!!!!" |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2003-10-16 11:37:43 AM |
| #1 "I slipped in the shower and the files fell into my hard drive. Damndest thing I ever saw." |
| Posted by: seafarious 2003-10-16 10:58:25 AM |