26/11 trial in US winding down, verdict likely on June 8

The verdict in the trial of Tahawwur Hussain Rana, co-accused in the Mumbai terror attacks with David Coleman Headley, is likely to come as early as on June 8 as the Chicago businessman is unlikely to testify at his own trial.

Attorney Patrick Blegen said Tahawwur Rana’s defence team was still making a final decision, but it was unlikely Rana would take the stand.

The case proceeded quickly after Headley, a Pakistani-American, wrapped up his testimony after five days of questioning by prosecution and defence lawyers in the trial of his childhood friend and another 26/11 co-accused Rana in a Chicago court and the verdict is likely to come on June 8.

Prosecutors called seven witnesses on Thursday, including five FBI agents who verified email and phone communication between Rana, Headley, and “Major Iqbal,” believed to be an ISI officer.

Rana was communicating through e-mails with Major Iqbal of ISI (low level officer), it was noted in court.

An email sent from a Chaudhery Khan, another name for Major Iqbal from chaudherykhan@yahoo.Com [1] in which he gave his mobile number for future contacts was shown in court on Thursday by prosecutor Sarah Streicker.

Another e-email from tahawwur@yahoo.Com [2] in which Rana booked Headley’s flight on December 8, 2008, from New York to Chicago with a stop at Atlanta.

US district court judge Harry D. Leinenweber said the case proceeded quickly partly because both the government and defence had no problems with the stipulation.

A stipulation is an agreement between opposing parties prior to a pending hearing or trial when both parties stipulate to certain facts and therefore do not argue those facts.

The judge adjourned the hearing till on Monday.

“We’re fairly close to the end of the case,” Leinenweber said.

“We’re going to suspend now until Monday, 9.30 AM,” he added.

On Monday the last of the witnesses will be presented. The trial will resume with testimonies from Rana’s witnesses among others.

Final arguments will be on Tuesday and deliberations are scheduled for on the same day.

The jury will deliberate after weighing in the pros and cons and given information and arguments to evaluate.

The jury could come up with a verdict whether Rana is guilty or not as early as Wednesday.

At the start of the trial, Leinenweber had stated that the trial would tentatively end by June 15.

Rana was indicted by a federal grand jury under 12 counts on February 15, 2010 for planning out the attacks, providing material support to LeT to carry out the bombings, and guiding Headley in scouting targets in Mumbai in the process.

Rana, a Pakistani Canadian, on the other hand, said that he was duped by Headley, who has pleaded guilty to scouting sites in Mumbai.

In an e-mail, shown in the court, Rana wrote to aperson called Syed Nomar that he got business cards printed for himself and Headley showing him as an immigration consultant of first world Immigration.

Streicker also pulled up Tahawwur Rana’s wife Samraz’s phone records in which the latter had received calls from a “Dave” — nickname for David Headley, and Balaji another name for Major Iqbal displaying the same cell number above.

FBI special agent David Maze on Thursday testified that the phone records had been verified.

Another email from Rana from immigration@ameritech.Net [3] addresed to an employee of Jyllands Posten, Lissobette Bus Anderson, in which Headley asked her details about advertising for first world immigration and its future clients.

The e-mail had Rana’s IP address that matched with another e-mail showing his business accounts and also through the Yahoo account management tool that shows Rana’s birthday and matches with the IP address of Pan American Physical Services, a company whose CEO was Rana.

However there were no businesss phone calls or faxes made to Denmark, Sweden or Norway.

There was no setting up of an office for first world immigration services in Cophenhagen and Headley was just scouting the Jyllands Posten office, records mentioned.

Another e-mail asking for the progress on a project was sent from Immigration@ameritech.Net [4] to ranger1david@yahoo.Com [5] (Headley’s e-mail).

Further, an e-mail liaqatwing11@gmail.Com [6] was also shown which Rana created on October 8, 20009 for Headley.

A transcript of a call in which Rana spoke to Pasha (Abdur Rehman Hashim Syed) — a trusted friend of Headley and Rana and a retired major from the Pakistani Army — shows they discussed visas.

Pasha had connected Headley to Al Qaeda leader Ilyas Kashmiri. The court was told that Rana tried hard to getHeadley a Pakistani visa.

Streicker played the transcript of a call between the then Pakistani consul general in Chicago Aman Rashid and Rana at the trial.

Rashid had studied with Rana and Headley in the same military Cadet College Hasan Abdal School in Pakistan.

In September 2009, Rana was trying to get Headley an extended visa for five years.

Rashid explained to Rana that since Headley was an American he could not get such a visa because Americans are not given extended visas to Pakistan.

“Government of India has given him,” Rana argued.

“Government of Pakistan has never given one,” Rashid replied.

Rana told Rashid that Headley had been issued such a visa in New York.

“We will give him multiple-entry visa for five years,” Rashid said.

“If he is not Pakistani we should not give him for five years,” Rashid added.

“I am looking to become ambassador, you can't do just like that. We too have restrictions,” Rashid told Rana.

Before this, Headley had got visa for five years from New York without approval of the Board of Investment.

Later on seeing Headley’s visa from New York, Rashid recognised who had signed the visa in New York, but had not put the stamp to avoid getting caught.

In the cross-questioning, Rana’s lawyer Patrick Blegen said the majority of Rana’s phone records had been examined and that it was found that Rana’s computers were used for research of H1B visas and other visa issues.