Saturday, December 04, 2010
Assistant U.S. Attorney Van Vincent argued in court documents that Abdifatah Omar is a flight risk and poses a danger to his community.
Omar's attorney wants his client to be released into the custody of his brother, Abdirahman Omar.
Vincent said that he questioned the brother at a Thursday hearing in Nashville's U.S. District Court about an incident at his job. The brother works at Nashville International Airport and once allowed another brother, who also is indicted in the case, into a restricted area where Abdirahman Omar took pictures. They include one with the brother in the cockpit of a plane.
A spokeswoman at the Nashville airport said Abdirahman Omar is not an airport employee and that he works for Embraer, an aircraft manufacturer. Christine Manna, a spokeswoman for Embraer, declined to comment.
Vincent said Abdirahman Omar testified that he is not allowed to escort visitors into restricted areas. He said in court that another person was with them who does have escort privileges, but he would not name that person.
Contacted by The Associated Press, Abdirahman Omar said he could not discuss his testimony.
The defendant's attorney did not immediately return messages. Abdifatah Omar is one of 29 people from Nashville and Minneapolis indicted in the case.
Another co-defendant is his brother Mohamed Omar, whose pretrial detention case also was heard Thursday. Mohamed Omar has a different proposed custodian. Government attorneys say he should not be released because he is a flight risk and poses a danger to the community.
Pretrial release granted
Mohamed Omar's attorney, Lawrence Arkoff, has said in court documents that his client has been employed for 10 years and witnesses have testified that they have never seen him drink alcohol, use drugs or lose his temper.
Mohamed Omar and Abdifatah Omar were granted pretrial release Nov. 19 by a magistrate judge, but prosecutors appealed that ruling and the brothers have remained in jail. At the conclusion of Thursday's hearing, U.S. District Judge William Haynes asked both parties to submit supporting documents. Arkoff said it will be at least 10 days before a decision can be expected.
Source: AP