Date:06/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/06/stories/2008080656560100.htm

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Terror suspect rejects legal aid

Staff Correspondent

MYSORE: Rejecting the free legal aid offered to him by the court, the suspected militant from Pakistan Mohammed Fahad has informed the Mysore court that he would like to defend himself on the terror charges framed against him by the police.

After the charges were read out to Fahad and co-accused Ali Hussain in the III Additional Sessions Court in Mysore on Wednesday, the judge, Uma, asked Fahad to avail of the free legal aid services. Fahad rejected the offer and sought permission to write to Pakistan High Commission for a counsel to defend him. When the judge said it was not possible for the court to issue any directions in the regard, Fahad said he would argue the case himself.

Special Public Prosecutor Ashwini Kumar Joshi told The Hindu that the court has fixed September 5 as the next date of hearing. “During the next hearing, production of materials in the case as evidence will take place,” said Mr Joshi.

However, Fahad’s co-accused Ali Hussain will be represented by a lawyer. Ali Hussain complained to the judge that he had lost his hearing in one ear because of an alleged physical assault on him while he was in police custody. Mohammed Fahad and Ali Hussain were arrested in Mysore in October 2006 and charged with planning terror strikes in Bangalore and Mysore. The Mysore police had claimed that the two belonged to Al Badr, a terror outfit. After the hearing, the two were taken back to Bangalore Central jail.