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CNN Live At Daybreak

Saeed Appears in Court Today, Evidence Against Him Strong

Aired February 25, 2002 - 06:07   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.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Let's talk about Daniel Pearl now. The suspected mastermind in the Pearl kidnapping appeared in an anti- terror court today. CNN's Chris Burns is covering that story in Karachi, Pakistan. He joins us live again.

Chris, what happened today?

CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Carol, extremely heavy security at the high court today where the authorities brought in Sheikh Omar Saeed who's believed to be the chief mastermind behind the kidnapping of American journalist Daniel Pearl. He along with two other suspects were led in with sheets tied over their heads, brought in with hard cars -- armored cars. Police -- dozens of police surrounding them as they were brought into the courthouse where they were brought into a closed-door hearing where the judge heard the prosecution ask for more time -- more time to build their case.

They say that ever since the videotape was acquired by U.S. authorities late last week showing the brutal murder and decapitation of Daniel Pearl, that authorities would now like to try to find the body of Daniel Pearl, as well as the weapon used to kill him with, and perhaps to find more suspects and more evidence. Now the prosecution said that they would like more time. They would also like to perhaps make more arrests of people who are now at large including the man who kidnapped Daniel Pearl.

The defense came back including the defendants, the accused, Sheikh Omar Saeed, Sheikh Mohammed Adil and Salmon Saqib came back and made complaints. They said that authorities were trying to pressure them.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KHWAJA NAVEED AHMED, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Omar Sheikh had complained that by force his signature has been obtained on blank papers, and he was forced to make confession, which he doesn't want to make.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BURNS: Now you might remember at the last hearing Sheikh Omar Saeed had admitted in the courtroom that he actually was the mastermind. However, he made that statement without being sworn in, so that can may not be used as evidence. Now apparently police are trying to get him to sign a confession now, and he's refusing to. The judge told the authorities, the prosecutors, and the police to back off, not to force him, any of the three, to sign anything, but that will he grant the prosecution and the investigators two more weeks to try to build their case -- Carol.

COSTELLO: What if they can't build their case?

BURNS: Well that's a good question. They can come back -- the prosecutors can come back and perhaps ask for more time. If they are not given that time, because there is a legal system here, they would have to present the evidence that they do have and they did intend already on filing kidnapping and murder charges, both capital offenses here in Pakistan. And they could file that in two weeks on March 12 if they are not given more time.

Now, yes it is quite possible that the body would not be found, that the weapon would not be found, and they might just have to proceed with what they have -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I guess the big fear is that Saeed Sheikh would be let go for lack of evidence.

BURNS: No, that is not -- that does not appear at all possible at this point, that authorities have been building a lot of evidence against him, and also including a confession given by one of the three suspects believed to have sent the e-mails showing Daniel Pearl in captivity and showing the demands that the U.S. release Pakistani prisoners at Guantanamo Bay. He was -- he said that Sheikh Omar had instructed them to do that and that indicating that Sheikh Omar was behind the kidnapping, the organization of the kidnapping. So there does appear to be fairly damning evidence already that would keep him in custody right now.

COSTELLO: OK ...

BURNS: Carol.

COSTELLO: ... we understand. Thank you. Chris Burns reporting live from Pakistan this morning.

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