New York, NY —
Sathajhan Sarachandran apologized to the court for attempting to buy military equipment for the Tamil Tigers in 2006, before a U.S. judge sentenced him to 15 years in prison for the crime. "I apologize. I take full responsibility for my actions," Sarachandran said. Sarachandran is one of two Tamil-Canadians sentenced on Friday for their role in attempting to buy military equipment in the U.S. for the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka. Sarachandran, 30, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, and his co-conspirator, Nadarasa Yogarasa, 55, was sentenced to 14 years in prison. In 2006, according to the FBI, the two men left Toronto to meet a supposed arms dealer in Long Island, NY. There, an undercover FBI agent posing as the arms dealer showed them a crate containing a stinger missile and its firing tube. After making a cellphone call to the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, they ordered 10 SA-18 heat-seeking anti-aircraft missiles and launchers, 500 AK-47 assault rifles and other military equipment, the FBI said. The two pleaded guilty in 2009 to charges of conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). Prosecutors argued that Sarachandran had been taking orders and passing information back to high level people in the LTTE for more than a year before his arrest, and that he had a long term commitment to the terrorist organization. His defence countered, however, that he was a well-educated Canadian from a humble background who became involved with Canada's Tamil communities long before the LTTE was banned in 2006. "Even good people commit crimes," U.S. Federal Court Judge Raymond J. Dearie said. "But this is a serious offense." Yogarasa, in turn, arrived in court on Friday, appearing calm. He wore a long-sleeved white shirt under a blue t-shirt, and waved to his wife of 28 years and his 28-year-old son before he took his seat. When Judge Dearie asked him if he had anything to declare, he said softly that he wanted to be there for his wife and son, who had already endured enough pain because of his absence. He said he wanted to be able to attend his son's wedding. Yogarasa didn't react when he heard his sentence, but waved to his wife and son again while leaving the Court. Yogarasa's defence told the court that he is a good man with no criminal past. He has been married for 28 years, paid his taxes on time and is tolerant of other religions. Judge Dearie told Yogarasa that he had been respectful of the court and didn't seem to show any bitterness towards the U.S.. "But as a civilized people, we can't accept this type of activity in this country," he said. The sentencing of both men was supposed to have been heard last week, but prosecutors wanted heavier sentences, arguing that purchasing weapons for a foreign terrorist organization constituted an act of domestic terrorism. Defence lawyers argued that it was difficult to claim the crime as an act of domestic terrorism when the weapons were clearly not intended to be used against Americans, either domestically or abroad. Two others Toronto residents, Suhil Sabaratnam and Thiruthanikan, pleaded guilty to the sames charges they will hear their sentences next Monday. They also face 25-years-to-life sentences. http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2010/01/22/12580766-qmi.html |
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