Related News
US officers interview man linked to anti-Islam movie
Source: Agencies |
September 16, 2012, Sunday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
A SOUTHERN California filmmaker linked to an anti-Islamic movie inflaming protests across the Middle East was interviewed by federal probation officers at a Los Angeles sheriff's station but was not arrested or detained, authorities said early yesterday.
Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, was interviewed at the sheriff department station in his hometown of Cerritos, Sheriff's Deputy Don Walker said.
Federal officials have said they were investigating the activities of Nakoula, who has been convicted of financial crimes. If the probation department determines Nakoula violated terms of his release, a judge could send him back to prison.
Walker said Nakoula traveled voluntarily in a squad car with deputies.
"He went to the Cerritos station to talk with probation officers. He's not under any arrest," Walker said.
The deputy said he doesn't have information on the interview or how long it lasted. Television station KNBC says Nakoula went to the sheriff's station early yesterday morning.
The station said that media had been staking out the home at the end of a cul de sac in the Southern California city when the man emerged wearing a coat, hat, scarf and glasses.
Violent protests
Federal authorities have identified Nakoula, a self-described Coptic Christian, as the key figure behind "Innocence of Muslims," a film denigrating Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. The film has ignited mob violence against US embassies across the Middle East. A federal law enforcement official said on Thursday that authorities had connected Nakoula to a man using the pseudonym of Sam Bacile who claimed earlier to be writer and director of the film.
Violent protests set off by the film in Libya played a role in mob attacks in Benghazi that killed US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other American officials. US Embassy gates in Cairo were breached by protesters and demonstrations against American missions spread to Yemen on Thursday and on Friday to several other countries.
The federal probation department is reviewing the case of Nakoula, who was previously convicted on bank fraud charges and was banned from using computers or the Internet as part of his sentence. The review is aimed at learning whether Nakoula violated the terms of his five-year probation.
Karen Redmond, a spokeswoman for the administrative office of the US courts, confirmed Friday the review is under way.
Nakoula pleaded no contest in 2010 to federal bank fraud charges in California and was ordered to pay more than US$790,000 in restitution. He was also sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and was ordered not to use computers or the Internet for five years without approval from his probation officer.
Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, was interviewed at the sheriff department station in his hometown of Cerritos, Sheriff's Deputy Don Walker said.
Federal officials have said they were investigating the activities of Nakoula, who has been convicted of financial crimes. If the probation department determines Nakoula violated terms of his release, a judge could send him back to prison.
Walker said Nakoula traveled voluntarily in a squad car with deputies.
"He went to the Cerritos station to talk with probation officers. He's not under any arrest," Walker said.
The deputy said he doesn't have information on the interview or how long it lasted. Television station KNBC says Nakoula went to the sheriff's station early yesterday morning.
The station said that media had been staking out the home at the end of a cul de sac in the Southern California city when the man emerged wearing a coat, hat, scarf and glasses.
Violent protests
Federal authorities have identified Nakoula, a self-described Coptic Christian, as the key figure behind "Innocence of Muslims," a film denigrating Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. The film has ignited mob violence against US embassies across the Middle East. A federal law enforcement official said on Thursday that authorities had connected Nakoula to a man using the pseudonym of Sam Bacile who claimed earlier to be writer and director of the film.
Violent protests set off by the film in Libya played a role in mob attacks in Benghazi that killed US Ambassador Chris Stevens and three other American officials. US Embassy gates in Cairo were breached by protesters and demonstrations against American missions spread to Yemen on Thursday and on Friday to several other countries.
The federal probation department is reviewing the case of Nakoula, who was previously convicted on bank fraud charges and was banned from using computers or the Internet as part of his sentence. The review is aimed at learning whether Nakoula violated the terms of his five-year probation.
Karen Redmond, a spokeswoman for the administrative office of the US courts, confirmed Friday the review is under way.
Nakoula pleaded no contest in 2010 to federal bank fraud charges in California and was ordered to pay more than US$790,000 in restitution. He was also sentenced to 21 months in federal prison and was ordered not to use computers or the Internet for five years without approval from his probation officer.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
