A Canadian who admitted plotting to bomb U.S. embassies in Singapore and the Philippines was sentenced yesterday to life in prison after telling the court he had been “brainwashed” by al-Qaeda.
Mohammed Mansour Jabarah, a Canadian citizen of Iraqi descent, was sentenced by a federal judge after pleading guilty in July, 2002, for his role in the disrupted bomb plots on orders from al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.
He initially co-operated with U.S. authorities but the relationship soured and he grew to mistrust them during the four years he was held in prison.
He was sentenced without a trial, based on his initial guilty plea. Court documents on the secret case were only unsealed shortly before the sentencing.
“I do not believe in terrorism, violence and killing,” Mr. Jabarah, 25, told U.S District Judge Barbara Jones, saying he had been a “naive youth” who was indoctrinated by Mr. bin Laden and other al-Qaeda leaders.
More...
