Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
10TORONTO54
2010-01-20 20:33:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Toronto
Cable title:
ANOTHER LIGHT SENTENCE TO SET FREE "TORONTO 18" CONSPIRATOR
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 RR RUEHWEB DE RUEHON #0054 0202033 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 202033Z JAN 10 FM AMCONSUL TORONTO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0077 INFO ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE RHEFHLC/HOMELAND SECURITY CENTER WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/CDR USNORTHCOM PETERSON AFB CO RHMFIUU/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/FBI WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/HQ BICE INTEL WASHINGTON DC RHMFIUU/USCBP WASHINGTON DC RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON 0003 RUEILB/NCTC WASHINGTON DC
UNCLAS TORONTO 000054
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/CT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PINR CA
SUBJECT: ANOTHER LIGHT SENTENCE TO SET FREE "TORONTO 18" CONSPIRATOR
REF: (A) 09 TORONTO 106 (B) 09 TORONTO 210 (C) 09 OTTAWA 768 (D) 09
TORONTO 240 (E) TORONTO 38
UNCLAS TORONTO 000054
SIPDIS
STATE FOR S/CT
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER PINR CA
SUBJECT: ANOTHER LIGHT SENTENCE TO SET FREE "TORONTO 18" CONSPIRATOR
REF: (A) 09 TORONTO 106 (B) 09 TORONTO 210 (C) 09 OTTAWA 768 (D) 09
TORONTO 240 (E) TORONTO 38
¶1. (U) Twenty-three-year-old Amin Mohamed Durrani pled guilty to
participating in the "Toronto 18" terror plots and was sentenced to
7.5 years in prison on January 20, two days after the group's
ringleader was sentenced to life in prison. However, with double
credit for time served in pretrial detention, Durrani will be
released after spending only one more day in prison. Durrani
admitted to participating in several training camps organized for
the "Toronto 18" group.
¶2. (U) Durrani's sentence follows the pattern of other members of
the "Toronto 18" who have been convicted and sentenced (see para
three). The comparatively light sentences combined with double
credit for time in pre-trial detention are frustrating Canadian law
enforcement officials, and Crown prosecutors are already appealing
the sentencing of Saad Khalid.
¶3. (U) Since the initial arrests of 18 Toronto-area men in 2006 for
a plot to carry out terrorist attacks in Southern Ontario to
protest Canada's military presence in Afghanistan, the following
have been convicted:
a) Nishanthan Yogakrishnan, 21, was convicted in September 2008 and
sentenced to 30 months on May 22. Given credit for time-served, he
has already been released;
b) Ali Mohamed Dirie, 26, pled guilty on September 21 to
participating in the activities of a terrorist group; he received a
seven-year sentence and will receive double credit for time in
pretrial detention;
c) Saad Khalid, 23, was sentenced to 14 years in prison on
September 4 and will receive double credit for time in pretrial
detention;
d) Saad Gaya, 21, pled guilty on September 28 and was sentenced to
12 years;
e) Zakaria Amara, 23, pled guilty on October 8 and was sentenced on
January 18 to life in prison;
f) Amin Mohamed Durrani, 23, pled guilty on January 20 and was
sentenced to 7.5 years in prison.
Of the remaining members of the "Toronto 18" terror plot arrested
in 2006, one man's trial began last week and four others face trial
in March. They cannot be identified due to an ongoing publication
ban. Charges against the other seven members were either stayed or
dismissed.
JOHNSON