Life Style Extra, UK
Oct 14 2005

Pilot at centre of US terror alert jailed

LIFE STYLE EXTRA (UK) – A student pilot at the centre of a US terror
alert was today jailed for a year for using a bogus UK passport to
gain entry to America.

Zayead Hajaig, 35, remains on the FBI’s most wanted list since the law
enforcement agency discovered he had used the false passport to
continue flying lessons after he was unable to obtain a visa under his
real name.

He illegally entered the US in 1997 but fled on March 8 this year
after the FBI became suspicious and wanted to question him as security
following the September 11 attacks were tightened up.

Today at Snaresbrook Crown Court the father of three was sentenced to
12 months in prison for obtaining by deception a British passport.

However Judge David Richardson ruled out any terrorist connections
between Islamic extremists and the Nigerian-born British citizen of
Armenian parents.

The judge said: `In 1997 you applied for a UK passport and
deliberately and dishonestly adopted the identification of someone
you knew, so that you obtained a passport with his name but your
photo.

`You did this in order to gain entry into the US. Previously you had
overstayed in the US on a tourist visa and you knew you would not be
able to gain entry again.’

Judge Richardson said Hajaig had used the fake passport to flee the
US earlier this year.

He said: `After the atrocities of September 11 someone in your
position was bound to fall under suspicion.

`However I make it clear there is no evidence before the court to
suggest for a moment that you had any terrorist connections. I accept
you were genuinely training to be a pilot.’

He added: `Nevertheless to obtain a passport by deception in
circumstances like this is a very serious matter.

`To commit such an offence now when proper immigration controls is
one line in the defence against terrorism is highly culpable and
calls for a long sentence.

`In 1997, when you committed this offence, the world was a different
place. The terrorist threat did not exist in the same way and your
sentence will reflect that.’

Hajaig, of Ilford, Essex, stole the identity of colleague Barry
Felton when the pair worked as security guards at a record store in
Barking.

He then studied flying at a school in Atlanta, Georgia, where two of
the September 11 suicide hijackers also trained, triggering the alert
when he reportedly tried to have his pilot rating upgraded to fly
commercial planes – despite lacking the necessary qualifications.

The FBI launched an international hunt after he fled to Britain but
the court heard that at present there was no application before the
British courts to extradite him.

And Hajaig was placed on the `no fly list’ which essentially means no
airline would allow him to board a commercial airline.

Last month Hajaig admitted the deception charge, but denied stealing
Barry Felton’s driving licence. That charge remains on file.

Hajaig pleaded guilty to one count of obtaining a UK passport by
deception between January 29 and February 6 1997. He falsely
represented that the details of a passport photo was a true depiction
of Barry Felton, together with Barry Felton’s personal details.

He denied one charge of theft involving Mr Felton’s driving license
on January 1, 1994, which he allegedly stole between January 1, 1994
and December 31, 1996.

Chubby, clean-shaven Hajaig wiped his eyes with a white tissue as
Judge Richardson warned he faced time behind bars before being led
away.

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From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress