Suspended sentence for gun in bag at Manchester Airport
27.11.08
A man twice cleared of involvement in alleged terrorist bomb plots received a suspended sentence for trying to board a plane at Manchester Airport with a pistol in his suitcase, the Manchester Evening News reports. Faisal Mostafa checked in a gas-powered pistol and primers, which are a bullet component, at the airport. Rosemary Fernandez, prosecuting, told Manchester crown court that he failed to declare he was carrying dangerous items.
Mr Mostafa, 44, was cleared of conspiracy to cause explosions with intent to endanger life in 2002 at Birmingham crown court. His co-accused, Moinul Abedin, was jailed for 20 years after being found guilty of planning to cause explosions. He was also cleared at Manchester crown court in 1996 of involvement in a terrorist bomb plot campaign after explosives were found at his Stockport home. The jury found him guilty of illegally possessing a firearm and he was sentenced to four years and banned for life from possessing a firearm.
Mr Mostafa, who has a PhD in chemistry and advises companies how to transport dangerous materials safely, intended to fly from Manchester Airport to Dubai in July with his wife and three children on an Emirates flight. Ms Fernandez said the family were going to Bangladesh for a hunting and fishing trip. A baggage scan picked up the outline of the trigger of a firearm in their luggage.
Ms Fernandez said the family's luggage was recalled following the scan and a search revealed a gas-powered pistol, packed in component parts, and three boxes of primers, marked with the standard explosive sign. The court heard that the pistol was used for target practice and had a range of 15 feet.
Ms Fernandez said: ‘He had purchased the gas pistol as a gift for his brother-in-law in Bangladesh. He said hunting and fishing were his biggest hobbies and he purchased all of the items legally.’
Mr Mostafa, of Green Pastures, Heaton Mersey, Stockport, pleaded guilty to two counts of possessing dangerous articles on an aircraft. Judge Peter Lakin said that the pistol and primers were packed safely and were not a danger to anyone. He sentenced Mr Mostafa to 56 days in prison on each count, to be served concurrently, suspended for two years.
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