Prosecution witnesses cross-examined in Pearl case
HYDERABAD- The cross-examination of last prosecution witness, Hameedullah Memon, investigating officer (IO) of the case, was completed here on Thursday by defence counsel Rai Basheer Ahmed in the Daniel Pearl murder case.
Ahmed claimed to have pointed out gross anomalies in the case of prosecution which closed its side.
Briefing newsmen about Thursday’s proceedings, he said it had been established in cross-examination of the IO that there was a dispute over dates of despatch of videocassette, showing murder of the US journalist, and the serial number of laptop computer, alleged to have been used by the accused for sending e-mails to different organizations, including newspapers.
Pointing out the anomalies, he said according to the statement of the FBI agent, John Moligan, who had produced the videocassette, it was despatched to the police on Feb 22, whereas the IO claimed he had received it a day earlier.
Ahmed said Feb 22, was written on the envelope containing the videocassette, which was received by the FBI agent.
The counsel said in response to queries, the IO admitted that the memo of recovery of video cassette was not written by him neither he got it signed by the judicial magistrate, Ahmed said and added no reason was cited by the IO why the envelop of cassette was sealed and reopened on different dates i.e. Feb 21 and March 9.
He said he confronted the IO with different case documents that were neither signed nor written by him whereas name of the writer was not disclosed.
He said the IO also conceded he did not recover any printer, used for taking printouts of the e-mails. The lawyer claimed it was the IO who had manoeuvred the e-mails. He added the IO had signed the text of e-mails, allegedly written and sent by accused.
The IO admitted he signed at the end of the text of e-mails, the lawyer said and added the IO told the court he did not give information about arrest of accused to the district Nazim (Administrator), concerned DPO and the District Public Safety Commission which was mandatory under the new police system.
Referring to examination of laptop in question by FBI agent, Ronald Joseph, defence counsel said there was another irregularity in this context because serial numbers of laptop, produced before court, and the one mentioned in memo of recovery, were different which made the case doubtful.
He said Joseph was on record having admitted he received the laptop for examination on Feb 4 and kept it with him till Feb 7 whereas the IO recovered it from Fahad Naseem on Feb 11.
He quoted Joseph having said the laptop was used between Feb 2 and 4 and not before Feb 2. But, the counsel said, e-mails in questions were sent before these dates i.e. soon after kidnapping of Pearl on Jan 23.
The The Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Syed Ali Ashraf Shah adjourned the proceeding for Friday when the statements of the four accused will be recorded.
Source: Dawn
Date:6/21/2002
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