13 January 2010 02:13 am
NEW YORK - The sentencing of two Tamil-Canadians nabbed by the FBI trying to buy anti-aircraft missiles has been held over.
Sahilal "Sahil" Sabaratnam, 28, and Thiruthanikan "Thani" Thanigasalam, 38, were caught in an FBI sting in Long Island, N.Y. in August 2006, with fellow Tamil-Canadian Sathajhan "Satha" Sarachandran, 27, and New York-based Nadarasa Yogarasa.
The agent showed them a crate containing a Stinger missile and its firing tube.
After making a cellphone call to the Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka, Thanigasalam ordered 10 heat-seeking anti-aircraft missiles and launchers, 500 AK-47 assault rifles and other military equipment.
The FBI said the weapons were to be used by the Tamil Tigers to shoot down aircraft used by the Sri Lankan military. Sabaratnam and Thanigasalam pleaded guilty to conspiracy and material support for terrorism. They were in a New York courtroom Tuesday morning, where the sentencing was delayed until later this month.
Sarachandran and Yogarasa, who had pleaded guilty to similar charges, were to be sentenced Tuesday, but that hearing was held over to Jan 22.
All four men face possible sentences of 25 years to life. (Toronto Sun)