Attorney for Indicated Military-Parts Dealer Claims His Client Was Framed by U.S. Government
The AP reports today that the attorney for Arif Ali Durrani, the convicted Pakistani military-parts dealer, that was recently indicted on additional export control law violations involving jet engine parts (see September 28, 2005 post below), claims that Durrani "is innocent and was set up by the U.S. government." The story states that Durrani's attorney "said he believed the F-5 engine parts were ultimately destined for Iran" but a man, identified by prosecutors as an unindicted co-conspirator, traveled to Iran and sold the aircraft parts, but did not do so at Durrani's instruction. The indictment alleges that Durrani conspired with others in 2004 and 2005 to illegally export engine components for the F-5 fighter jet to Malaysia and Belgium and a cockpit canopy panel for the T-38 Talon to the United Arab Emirates.