| 12 Mar 2010 |
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US investigators, lawyers in Smadi case due in Jordan
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AMMAN - A team including US investigators and lawyers of Hosam Smadi is expected to arrive in the Kingdom from Texas on March 27, Hosam's father Maher Smadi said on Thursday.
Hosam was arrested last September by agents of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and charged with an attempt to blow up a 60-storey building in Dallas.
"The chief lawyer, Richard Anderson, who is heading a team of three lawyers informed me over the phone today [Thursday] that they will arrive in the Kingdom accompanied by a team of investigators to interview Hosam's friends and ex-schoolmates as well as his family members," the father told The Jordan Times, adding that this will be the lawyers' first visit to Jordan.
He added that Anderson informed him that his inquiry will mainly highlight the psychological side of Hosam's life and to gather evidence that he had no religious affiliations or connections, underlining that his son spent 11 years of his life studying at a missionary school in Ajloun governorate.
Meanwhile, Smadi said the family has been able to talk to their son three times since he was arrested by the FBI agents on September 24, 2009, adding that the last time they spoke to him was around a month ago.
Smadi reiterated that his son was innocent and that he was manipulated by the FBI agents "who messed with his thoughts and twisted his words".
"Hosam told me that he was framed by Arab FBI agents: a Palestinian, a Syrian and a Lebanese. He told me that they were all in beards faking that they were Al Qaeda members," the father of two boys and four girls told The Jordan Times.
Hosam and his younger brother Hussein, 18, who was also arrested two hours after the arrest of Hosam on suspicion of being connected to the bomb plot, left for the US in 2007 following the death of their mother, who died in 2006 after battling cancer for many years, their father said, adding that the two brothers had been forced to quit school to remain next to their mother during her unsuccessful therapy cycle.
Hussein returned to Jordan in December after being detained for over two months on the grounds of his being an illegal stay in the US.
Smadi said their son seemed to be healthy on the phone, adding that they have so far sent him over $1,000 through his attorneys in order to pay for the cost of the calls.
Hosam is scheduled to go on trial in June. The Associated Press reported previously from Dallas, Texas, that he had initially been scheduled for trial starting December 7.
But a federal judge found the case was complex and agreed more time was needed to interview witnesses and review evidence.
The judge moved the trial to June 7. If convicted, Hosam could face life in prison.
© Jordan Times 2010
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