 A businessman who lied to investigators about his dealings with a top figure in the militant group Hamas was sentenced Thursday to 13 months in prison. Soliman Biheiri was convicted in October for falsely telling agents in 2003 that he had had no business dealings with Mousa Abu Marzook, a former northern Virginia resident who has been deported and is now a top officer in the political wing of Hamas. Prosecutors said Marzook helped lure $1 million in investment to BMI Inc., Biheiri's now-defunct New Jersey-based business, and that the two engaged in financial transactions involving tens of thousands of dollars as recently as 1996 - a year after the U.S. government designated Marzook a terrorist. The defense had sought an eight-month term. Attorney David Schertler said there is no evidence Marzook received any money from Biheiri after Marzook was designated a terrorist, and Biheiri said during Thursday's hearing that he rejects any associations with terrorism. "I never support terrorism. I never believe in it. I have always believed myself a liberal Muslim. ... How did I know that Abu Marzook, that three years later he would be a member of Hamas?" Biheiri asked. | I dunno. Maybe the black ski mask and green headband might've tipped you off? |
Biheiri was convicted in 2003 and sentenced in January 2004 to 12 months in prison on immigration charges. Biheiri has already served his first term and seven months of the term imposed Thursday. He will be deported to Egypt following his release. | Bye. Don't bother to write... |
|