Update from Lane Ledger of the Patriot Ledger on the "voluntary departure" of former Sharon imam Muhammed Masood:
"Today (August 1, 2008) was to have been the day Imam Muhammad Masood was sentenced to probation for visa fraud convictions, followed soon by his voluntary departure from the country."
"Instead, the former spiritual leader of the Islamic Center of New England's Sharon mosque is awaiting a late September court date, as his attorneys try to work out a deal with government lawyers to keep him out of jail between his sentencing and his departure."
"The legal battle over the terms of his exit is spelled out in the latest documents filed at U.S. District Court in Boston."
"In a joint motion filed July 24, Imam Masood's criminal attorney, Norman Zalkind of Boston, and Justice Department lawyers asked for a delay until Sept. 17 or later because it's still not clear whether Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will agree to let the imam stay free on bail until he boards a plane out of the U.S."
"Imam Masood pleaded guilty to five counts of visa fraud in February, in a deal that would put him on probation until his deportation was settled. His attorneys, immigration lawyer William Joyce of Duxbury and Zalkind, now say he's ready to go without a court fight, probably to his native Pakistan."
The same Pakistan that was so dangerous for him to go back to a few months ago? Masood was contemplating seeking political asylum here in the U.S., claiming that it was too dangerous for him to return to. Maybe that was the last straw for the feds.
Previous blog postings on this case here (scroll down).
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