E-Paper
Sikh accused of arms deal for LeT
Palvinder Singh allegedly visited Canada to buy Kevlar, used in bullet-proof vests, writes Nabanita Sircar.
A Sikh man from Coventry, accused of supplying cash, guns and other equipment to terrorists, has denied the charges.
Palvinder Singh denies conspiring to supply money and property to Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), a group fighting against India in Kashmir.
Snaresbrook Crown Court in London was told that 30-year-old Singh allegedly visited a body armour factory in Canada to buy Kevlar, which is used in bullet-proof vests.
The former Parcelforce employee later arranged for it to be shipped to Pakistan, the jury was told. Andrew Edis QC, prosecuting, said Singh instructed his bank to pay £12,000 for the Kevlar.
Edis said ordering the payment for delivery of the Kevlar to Islamabad in Pakistan was "clear, inescapable, unequivocal evidence of supporting terrorism".
The court heard that Singh also arranged for a gun to be delivered to his Coventry home. Edis said that between September 2000 and some point in 2003, Singh assisted another man who he described as a "person of authority in LeT".
This included organising the shipping of body-armour, using Singh's bank account for transactions and receiving a gun and holster at his home, he said.
The court was told that Singh paid for the man's hang-gliding lessons, which could have been so he could become airborne in Kashmir's mountain ranges. And the court heard that Singh was effectively used as a "cover" to hide some of the man's activities. This was because as a Sikh and not a Muslim he was viewed as being "less suspicious", the court was told.
Large payments were made into Singh's account from all over the country, including London and Surrey, by unknown persons, Edis said. One sum was for £3,600 paid in during October 2000, the court heard. Singh received one gun in the UK and placed orders for others at the end of 2002 and early 2003, Edis added.
In March and May 2002, attempts were also made to obtain and operate a small remote controlled aircraft. This could be capable of carrying such items as a video camera or a small bomb, the court was told.
The trial continues.
