Jilani Humayun

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Jilani Humayun is a Pakistani-American arms trader who was arrested in New York on July 19, 2007, and charged in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York with 11 counts of violating the federal Arms Export Control Act, one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.[1]

In 2003, while employed with an aviation parts employer, Humayun applied to the United States Department of State Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC) for an export license to send certain military equipment to an unidentified company in Malaysia. The application indicated that the Malaysian company was planning to forward the parts to the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense and Aviation. The DDTC advised that the application was denied because the Malaysian company was an unreliable recipient of items on the United States Munitions List.[2]

In January 2004, Humayun formed his own company, Vash International, Inc., to engage in the business of export management for defense and logistic support, including tanks, guided missiles and rocket launchers. Then, on 11 separate occasions between January 2004 and May 2006, Humayun, via Vash International, exported to the Malaysian company Northrop F-5 and F-14 Tomcat fighter jet parts and CH-47 Chinook helicopter parts. According to United States Attorney Michael J. Garcia, it is documented in public reports that the sole customer of F-14 parts is the Iranian Air Force.[1] Neither Humayun nor Vash International applied for or received the export license required to send the parts included in the 11 shipments outside the United States.[2]

Humayun admitted that, at the Malaysian company's request, he undervalued the shipments on his export paperwork so that the Malaysian company could avoid paying Malaysian customs duties.[1] This conduct forms the basis for the mail fraud conspiracy charged. Humayun is also charged with a money laundering conspiracy relating to the Malaysian company's wire transfer payments totaling US$357,085 to Vash International.[2]

U.S. Magistrate Judge Ronald L. Ellis denied a request by a prosecutor to order Humayun held without bail. The judge set bond at US$500,000 and ordered Humayun detained at his home in Lynbrook, New York after Humayun's lawyer, Joyce London, described her client as a "true New Yorker" who rarely traveled and had visited Pakistan only once since coming to the United States in 1981.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d "Weapons export arrest made in New York", The Associated Press, 2007-07-20. Retrieved on 2007-07-20. 
  2. ^ a b c "Long Island Man Arrested for Illegally Exporting F-5 and F-14 Fighter Jet Components", PR Newswire, 2007-07-19. Retrieved on 2007-07-20.