Charity leader accused of spying for Iraq
Published: March 26, 2008 at 10:14 PM
DETROIT, March 26 (UPI) -- An ex-official of an Islamic charity who set up U.S. congressional visits to Iraq has been indicted for allegedly spying for former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein.
Muthanna al-Hanooti, who worked for the Detroit-area charity Life for Relief and Development, allegedly coordinated congressional delegations to Iraq at the direction of the Iraqi intelligence service between 1999 and 2002, ABC News reported Wednesday.
Authorities say in return, he received payoffs, according to the indictment unsealed in Detroit. U.S. lawmakers are not accused of any wrongdoing in the case.
The indictment alleges that between 1999 and March 2003, al-Hanooti acted as an unregistered foreign agent for the Iraqi Intelligence Service. He also is accused of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
"As compensation for services that defendant al-Hanooti has rendered to the government of Iraq, including his organizing and leading the 2002 congressional delegation, with the concurrence of unindicted co-conspirator No. 1, on are about Dec. 22, 2002, the vice president of Iraq directed the Iraqi minister of petroleum to allocate to defendant al-Hanootni a quantity if 2 million barrels of oil," the indictment says.
Muthanna al-Hanooti, who worked for the Detroit-area charity Life for Relief and Development, allegedly coordinated congressional delegations to Iraq at the direction of the Iraqi intelligence service between 1999 and 2002, ABC News reported Wednesday.
Authorities say in return, he received payoffs, according to the indictment unsealed in Detroit. U.S. lawmakers are not accused of any wrongdoing in the case.
The indictment alleges that between 1999 and March 2003, al-Hanooti acted as an unregistered foreign agent for the Iraqi Intelligence Service. He also is accused of violating the International Emergency Economic Powers Act.
"As compensation for services that defendant al-Hanooti has rendered to the government of Iraq, including his organizing and leading the 2002 congressional delegation, with the concurrence of unindicted co-conspirator No. 1, on are about Dec. 22, 2002, the vice president of Iraq directed the Iraqi minister of petroleum to allocate to defendant al-Hanootni a quantity if 2 million barrels of oil," the indictment says.
© 2008 United Press International. All Rights Reserved.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
This material may not be reproduced, redistributed, or manipulated in any form.
» Next in Top News:
Rice to return to Mideast
Lance Armstrong (C), cancer survivor and seven time Tour de France winner, and Steve Case (R), co-founder and former chief executive officer and chairman of America Online, watch as Elizabeth Edwards, wife of former Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) and senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, who is currently battling a recurrence of breast cancer, testifies before a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing on Cancer challenges and opportunities in the 21st Century in Washington on May 8, 2008. (UPI Photo/Kevin Dietsch)
Senate Health Committee investigates Cancer in Washington
Full Photo
| Slideshow
Latest Headlines
- Elderly man rescued after toy boat flips
- Report: Navaira had blood alcohol of .19
- Judge denies motion to delay Kelly trial
- Panel: FBI slow to join terrorism fight
- Judge says young girl 'welcomed' pedophile
- Honda FourTrax Foreman ATVs recalled
- UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News
- Young Europeans use alcohol to get sex
Most Popular
- Fritzl recalls start of incest family
- Food group resumes relief trips to Myanmar
- Canadian train quarantined after death
- Lebanese MP asks army to protect Tripoli
- Judge says young girl 'welcomed' pedophile
- Young Europeans use alcohol to get sex
- Canada to probe U.S. warships sunk in 1813
- Cattrall says male actors are vain, too