An accused al Qaeda sleeper agent appeared before a US judge today after nearly six years in isolated military custody, but will have to wait longer before he can enter a plea on charges of supporting terrorism.
Ali al-Marri, a 43-year-old with dual citizenship in Qatar and Saudi Arabia, smiled as he chatted with his lawyer during his first trip out of the Consolidated Naval Brig in Charleston, South Carolina, since 2003.
A stocky man with long dark hair and a long beard tinged with gray, Mr Marri looked healthy and wore a gray sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, white cap and Nike tennis shoes.
Mr Marri, whose lawyer had expected he would enter a plea of not guilty, is scheduled to return to court in Charleston on March 18th for a bond hearing. Prosecutors contend he is a danger to the community and a flight risk and should stay locked up pending trial.
Assistant US Attorney Kevin McDonald said that after next week's hearing Mr Marri would
likely be transferred to Illinois, where he will enter his plea in the district where he was charged. A federal grand jury in Peoria, Illinois, indicted Mr Marri last month on charges of conspiring with al Qaeda and providing material support for terrorism.
Mr Marri was the last person held in the United States as an "enemy combatant" under a Bush administration policy that allowed those the president considered to be terrorists to be held indefinitely without charge.
Following a review ordered by president Barack Obama, Mr Marri's case was transferred to the US court system.
Mr Marri, who stood before the judge in handcuffs and wearing bifocals during the 15-minute hearing, answered "yes sir," when US Magistrate Judge Robert Carr asked if he understood his rights and whether he wanted to keep his current attorney.
The indictment against him contains no details about the charges. US authorities have said previously that Mr Marri is suspected of being an al Qaeda "sleeper" agent sent by Osama bin Laden and by Khalid Sheik Mohammed, the mastermind of the September 11th, 2001 attacks, to disrupt the US financial system by hacking into bank computers.
Next week's bond hearing will require government prosecutors to present some of the evidence against Marri. His lawyer plans to present witnesses to defend his client, who is married and has five children. He has asked that two of Mr Marri's brothers travel to the United States to participate.
Reuters