News

Fijian found guilty in US

December 26, 2016 11:37 pm

An American jury has found a Fijian man guilty of going to the United Stated to buy devices used in aircraft, satellites, and missiles so he could sell them to China, in violation of the Arms Export Control Act.

After a three-day trial in U.S. District Court in Seattle last week and three hours of deliberations, the jury rejected claims by William Ali that the case was entrapment by agents with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

Thirty-seven-year-old Ali, who lives in New Zealand, had claimed that an undercover agent induced him to come to Seattle to purchase the devices.

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Federal prosecutors argued successfully that Ali sought the accelerometers and gyroscopes for a customer in China.

Anyone exporting the devices must first acquire a license from the U.S. Department of State.

Ali opted against getting a license, despite warnings that he would be violating the law.

Ali is an engineer who has worked for Fiji Airways and Air New Zealand, court records said.

He also ran a small company called Aircraft Mechanics and Logistics that sells aircraft parts.

His sentencing is set for March 16th.