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Home » News Centre » Press Releases » CPS helps police with evidence from abroad in first terrorism case tried outside London

CPS helps police with evidence from abroad in first terrorism case tried outside London

05/07/2007

A Crown Prosecution Service Counter Terrorism Division Lawyer travelled with police to Holland to help them obtain evidence from the Dutch authorities for one of the first terrorism cases to come to trial outside London.

Susan Hemming, head of the CPS Counter Terrorism Division said: "The senior lawyer in the case drafted around 30 Letters of Request to help the police obtain evidence from abroad and also travelled with them to Holland to help obtain evidence from the Dutch authorities. This was key evidence that we needed to obtain quickly to secure committal to the Crown Court."

The Counter Terrorism Division was contacted by Greater Manchester Police in June 2006 at the start of the investigation into Yusuf Abdullah and Omar Altimimi. Miss Hemming said: "A senior lawyer in the division travelled to Manchester to review the evidence and provide help and advice to the police at an early stage in the investigation.

"She decided that Omar Altimimi should be charged with six offences of possessing articles for a purpose connected with the commission, preparation or instigation of an act of terrorism relating to information found on computers used by him.

"She also decided that Altimimi and Abdullah should be charged with offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 for the acquisition of criminal property over the fraudulent transfer of nearly £31,120 which belonged to the Yemeni Tourist Board. She felt this was the appropriate charge as there was insufficient evidence to establish that the money was to fund terrorism.

"This case originally started out as a fraud investigation but was widened once police began looking at computers belonging to Altimimi and found files on them relating to terrorist activities and information.

"The hard work of police, CPS and counsel in putting together this case is reflected in the guilty plea of Abdullah and the guilty verdicts of the jury. With the end of Altimimi's trial we will be applying to confiscate funds sufficient to return the money to the Yemeni Authorities. We need a court order before we can do so."

  1. Omar Altimimi was charged with six offences contrary to Sec 57 of the Terrorism Act 2000. This carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.
  2. The offences under sec 329 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 carry a maximum sentence of 14 years.
  3. The trial of Altimimi at Manchester Crown Court is the first terrorism trial to be held outside London since 9/11.
  4. Greater Manchester Police originally began investigating Abdullah and Altimimi after being called about a fraudulent bank transfer from the Yemeni Tourist Board to the Nationwide Building Society in Bolton.
  5. A letter of request is a formal letter requesting assistance in obtaining from outside the United Kingdom such evidence as is specified in the letter for use in the proceedings or investigation in question.
  6. For further information contact CPS Press Office on 020 7796 8180.