Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Hussein's Stepson Detained in Miami

Aired July 04, 2002 - 14:15   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.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Now, on this Fourth of July, the presumed stepson of one of America's arch rivals is in a Florida jail. Mohammad Nour al-Din Saffi is believed to be the stepson of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. Last night, he was arrested in Miami, where he was planning to attend flight school. Our national correspondent Susan Candiotti joins us from Miami with more details on that. Hi there, Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Fredricka. I'm outside the school, Erro (ph) Service Aviation here in Miami, where Mohammad Saffi had been intending to take about a four-day pilot re-certification course. Well, not anymore. He remains in INS custody.

He was taken into INS custody last night, because he did not have the required student visa that is needed for him to attend the school. The school says, however, that it had checked with the Justice Department Web site set up specifically for flight schools before it gave him the clearance to attend.

However, we are getting a "no comment" from the Justice Department, and, therefore, no explanation about how this could have happened.

We are told that Mohammad Saffi arrived Monday in Los Angeles from New Zealand, where he is a naturalized citizen and where he has been living for about six years. We also understand reportedly that he is an employee of Air New Zealand. We also understand that from law enforcement sources.

Now once he flew to Miami, after having been interviewed by the FBI and let go, he arrived in Miami and stayed at the Comfort Inn here in Miami, and that ultimately is where he was arrested.

Now, briefly to explain to you the family tree. His mother is married to an Iraqi airline executive -- or was -- and then she had an affair with Saddam Hussein, according to our sources, and then divorced her husband and married Saddam Hussein.

At this time, authorities say they have no indication at all of any possible illegal motives on the part of Mohammad Saffi, aside from him not having the proper student visa to attend the school. But he could face deportation for not having the proper paperwork. Back to you, Fredricka. WHITFIELD: All right, thank you, Susan Candiotti from Miami.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com