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Washington Post - September 10, 2005
Charges tossed against Oregon Islamic Charity
PORTLAND, Oregon -- A federal judge has dismissed criminal charges against the U.S. branch of a defunct Islamic charity that was accused of helping al-Qaida, but prosecutors said new charges are possible.
The Al-Haramain Islamic Foundation Inc. branch in Ashland was indicted last February on two tax charges for allegedly helping to launder $150,000 in donations five years ago to help al-Qaida fighters in Chechnya.
Federal prosecutors had asked last month that the charges be dropped, saying the case would be a waste of time because all that remains of the organization is its corporate shell.
However, the two men who ran the Ashland branch are still considered international fugitives.
At a hearing Thursday in Eugene, Marc Blackman, the attorney representing the Al-Haramain branch, asked U.S. Magistrate Thomas Coffin to reject the government's motion to dismiss the charges. He argued that the case should either proceed to trial with the current indictment or be dismissed with prejudice, which would prevent the government from reviving it.
However, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Cardani countered that the Al-Haramain investigation continues and involves "very serious charges." He did not give any details about those charges.
The foundation was based in Saudi Arabia until the Saudi government ordered it dissolved in a crackdown on terrorist financing following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The United States and other countries said it was suspected of funding the al-Qaida terror network led by Osama bin Laden.
The indictment against the foundation also charged (an Iranian) Pete Seda and a Saudi named Soliman Al-Buthe with tax crimes involving the $150,000 in donations.
Seda, an Ashland tree trimmer also known as Perouz Sedaghaty, established the Oregon charity in 1997 with support from the Saudi operation. The charity operated a prayer house and distributed Islamic literature to prisoners….
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/09/10/AR2005091001080.html
The Oregonian Saturday, September 10, 2005
The govt could choose to file criminal charges
against Al Haramian Foundation in the future
A federal judge in Eugene on Thursday dismissed criminal charges against a defunct Islamic organization in Ashland, a ruling that preserves the government's ability to bring criminal charges against the charity in the future if they decide to.
Al Haramain Islamic Foundation Inc. in Ashland was indicted in February on two tax charges for its role in allegedly laundering $150,000 in donations five years ago to help foreign Islamic fighters. The charity has been designated a terrorist organization by Treasury officials who say the group has links to al-Qaida.
Federal prosecutors sought to drop the case against Al Haramain last month, saying it would be a waste to continue because it is a functionless shell. However, the two men who ran the group are considered international fugitives who are wanted by federal authorities.
Pete Seda, an Ashland tree trimmer also known as Perouz Sedaghaty, established the Oregon charity in 1997 with support from a Saudi operation with a similar name. The charity operated a prayer house and distributed Islamic literature to prisoners.
The indictment accusing the foundation charged Seda and a Saudi named Soliman Al-Buthe with tax crimes relating to the $150,000 in donations. The indictment said foreign donations deposited with the charity in Ashland were sent overseas by Seda and Al-Buthe to support Islamic fighters in Chechnya. The indictment said Al Haramain reported on its 2000 tax return that the money was used to buy a mosque building in Missouri.
Portland defense lawyer Marc Blackman asked U.S. Magistrate Thomas Coffin to deny the government's motion to dismiss. He argued that the case should either proceed to trial with the current indictment, or that the case be dismissed with prejudice, which would prevent the government from resurrecting the case against the charity….
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1126350179113670.xml&coll=7
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