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Indictment Expected Today For Lead Suspect in Kidnapping of Daniel Pearl

Aired March 14, 2002 - 12:02   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: CNN has learned an indictment is expected today for the lead suspect in the kidnapping of Daniel Pearl.

We want to get more now from Jonathan Aiken who is live in Washington with more on this front.

Jonathan, what are we learning now?

JONATHAN AIKEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Bill, we are learning the indictment coming up against Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh is expected to come out of a federal grand jury that's been active in New Jersey. We are told by Justice Department officials that the indictment will contain multiple counts, and they could include charges of kidnapping and conspiracy. Truth is, we don't know yet just what the specific charges in this grand jury indictment are going to be.

Let's give you a little history here. Pearl was kidnapped on January 23rd in Pakistan while he was investigating whether there were links between the shoe bomber suspect, Richard Reid, and Pakistani militant groups. His murder was confirmed February 23rd through a gruesome video take taken by his captors.

Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh is being held by Pakistani authorities over his alleged involvement in Pearl's kidnapping and murder. The indictment of the British-born militant really a marker set by U.S. law enforcement officials. It's the United States way of letting the Pakistanis know that Washington is serious about wanting to try Saeed in this country in connection with Pearl's murder.

As for the Pakistanis, they have made it clear from the get-go, they want it try him first and they will do that in their own country. The second indictment against Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh -- this will be the second indictment. One was originally handed up by a grand jury in Washington in November of last year. It was a secret indictment, still sealed; we don't know the details of it. But it does charge him with taking hostages as part of plot to kidnap Western tourists, one American in that group, in India, in 1994.

Now the disposition of Saeed is a delicate case for both sides. The United States wants him for Pearl's murder, but it can't seem to stomp on Pakistani sovereignty on this matter. Since Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh has done little to hide his terrorist connections over the years it is thought he may have ties to Pakistan's intelligence service or some people high up in the Pakistan government. We should tell you, Bill, that there is a history of extradition of suspects between these two countries dating back to the days when Pakistan was still part of the British India back in the '30s.

HEMMER: Jonathan, Thanks. Expect to hear from the attorney general next hour, too. We'll have that live for you when that takes place in Washington as well.

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