Secret FBI tape 'shows missile sale'

THE jury in the trial of a British businessman accused of attempting to sell anti-aircraft missiles to terrorists in the United States has been shown footage of the alleged sale.

Hemant Lakhani, from Hendon, north London, was secretly filmed as he met an undercover FBI informant in a New Jersey hotel and showed him a sample missile, the court was told.

The 69-year-old denies any links to terrorism and rejects further accusations that he promised to sell a radioactive "dirty bomb".

The tapes purport to show Lakhani smiling and clapping his hands as the man he thinks is a prospective buyer views the missile.

The meeting was the final scene of an FBI sting which led to Lakhani’s arrest in August 2003.

The businessman allegedly told the undercover agent, Muhammad "Haji" Rehman, that the rockets he was selling could be used to shoot down ten to 15 aircraft simultaneously on the second anniversary of the 11 September, 2001, terrorist attacks in the US.

Lakhani and Mr Rehman conducted all their talks in Hindi and Urdu, although the agent said he typically briefed agents in English during the investigation. Under cross-examination, Mr Rehman acknowledged that Lakhani was unfamiliar with terms such as "ammo" and did not know how the missile had been smuggled into New Jersey.

Lakhani’s lawyer, Henry Klingeman, claims his client was simply an ambitious businessman and "world-class name dropper" but not a seasoned arms dealer.

Mr Klingeman noted that Mr Rehman had never received "anything related to military hardware" during the 22 months that he was in contact with Lakhani.

The trial continues at New Jersey District Court.