Attorney claims Arab-bashing in visa-bribery case

Jace Radke

Wednesday, Nov. 7, 2001 | 9:11 a.m.

An employee of the U.S. Consulate in Saudi Arabia being held in a Las Vegas jail is expected to be taken to New Jersey in the next 10 days to face charges of taking bribes to issue American visas.

U.S. Magistrate Robert Johnston on Tuesday ruled that Abdulla Noman was a flight risk and ordered that he remain in custody until U.S. marshals can take him to New Jersey.

Noman's attorney said the 52-year-old Yemeni citizen is being held because he is Arab, and asked for his transfer to New Jersey to be expedited because he had been attacked and beaten Monday at the Las Vegas Detention Center at 3200 E. Stewart Ave.

Federal prosecutors argued that Noman is a flight risk and Yemen lacks extradition laws.

They added that an investigation is ongoing into whether he could be connected to the Sept. 11 attacks.

"It's no mystery that most of the individuals involved in the Sept. 11 attacks came from Saudi Arabia," Assistant U.S. Attorney Howard Zlotnick said during the hearing at the George Federal Building. "We don't know if he was involved, but we do know he was the go-to-guy to provide false visas in Saudi Arabia.

"Until the FBI completes its investigation into who he provided visas to, the nature of the crime poses a risk to the community."

Shari Kaufman, an assistant federal public defender representing Noman, told Johnston that the government's case against Noman shows no connection to the attacks.

"They've had him in custody for five days, and they still have no connection," Kaufman said. "Basically, this is a case of Arab-bashing."

Noman was in protective custody at the jail, but when he was allowed out of his cell for recreation time, another inmate punched him in the face, officials said.

"He was attacked inside the jail," Kaufman said. "With the current anti-Arab sentiment, he is not safe there."

Noman had a small cut above his right eye and some facial bruises when he appeared in court. Noman, who has a small build and salt and pepper hair, was given a piece of hard candy by an interpreter as he sat in the courtroom wearing an orange jumpsuit.

After his hearing Tuesday, Noman was transferred to the North Las Vegas jail, where he was again placed in protective custody, jail officials said.

Johnston set a status hearing for Nov. 20 if Noman is still in Las Vegas.

Zlotnick said that there is a strong case including videotaped and tape-recorded evidence that shows Noman, a U.S. Foreign Commercial Service employee, arranged the sales of visas to people coming to the United States from Saudi Arabia.

"The whole case is on tape, and it shows him (Noman) taking a bribe," Zlotnick said.

Noman was arrested late last week at the MGM Grand after an FBI sting, which involved an informant who cooperated with agents in Newark, N.J., according to federal court documents.

The FBI investigation was launched after the informant said Noman had paid the Saudi equivalent of about $3,000 to obtain an American visa.

On Thursday the informant paid Noman $4,000 at the MGM Grand to obtain another visa just before Noman was arrested, court documents say.

Kaufman said he was in Las Vegas working with Saudi businesses and an auto show.