Friday, Sept. 30, 2005 | 10:27 a.m.
The transcripts of grand jury proceedings obtained by the Sun reveal additional details about the 23-year-old Iranian man who is charged with making threats or conveying false information regarding an act of terrorism.
On Aug. 1, Eman Zaeri allegedly claimed to be Osama bin Laden's cousin and threatened to blow up an employee bus headed to Buffalo Bill's in Primm. He has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him and is being held on no bail while awaiting his May 15 before District Judge Donald Mosley.
Before a Clark County grand jury indicted Zaeri, his older brother, Omid Zaeri, testified on Sept. 1 that the inert grenade used in the incident had been used as a candleholder in his home, and insisted that the family is not connected to terrorists.
Omid Zaeri also recounted how he and his family had fled from Iran to the United States. He said when he was 18 he left Iran and lived in Turkey for two years, but when offered the opportunity to move to either Canada, the United States or Australia, he chose the "United States because I always wanted to be here."
He said he first settled in Salt Lake City for six months, where he worked for United Airlines, starting in cabin service and then being promoted to supervisor.
Zaeri said that when his mother and Eman Zaeri came to the United States and settled in Las Vegas, he joined them and his older brother, 25-year-old Arash Zaeri, who already lived in Las Vegas. He said he also has two cousins in Las Vegas.
Unable to find a transfer position through United Airlines in Las Vegas, Omid Zaeri said he began working at an Iranian-owned gas station in town.
He said the grenade his brother had on the bus was given to him as a gift by a regular customer at the gas station. Zaeri said he first was frightened by the grenade, but the customer explained it was inert.
He testified that although his "religion is all about the peace," he took the grenade home so he could use it as a candleholder.
He said his brother was "curious" about the grenade, but he told Eman, "Don't touch it. It should remain on top of my bed."
A few days later on Aug. 1 Omid Zaeri said he was with his 23-year-old cousin, Hamed Khanehangha, at the Excalibur when his cousin received a phone call from a friend telling him a story about an Iranian on a bus.
"He said, ' You know, there was an Iranian guy in a bus. He was making a joke. They took him to the police, arrest him,' " Omid Zaeri said. "I was laughing. My cousin said, 'Is that Eman.' I said no, Eman would never do that.
"And I was just, you know, suddenly like oh my God, did he take it (the grenade) there? All those times I told him don't take it. I just went to my bedroom. I saw it's missing."
When asked if he or his family were related to Osama bin Laden, Omid Zaeri said no, but said when people discover he's Iranian they make jokes that he is related to bin Laden.
"You know, it's not funny at all, but that's a joke people every day or, you know, as soon as they say where are you from, when I say Iran, Persia, you know, are you related to him," Omid Zaeri said.
We are not Arab, we are not even Muslim, it's totally different. It's a joke that everybody does, and it's not funny, but they do that."
Chief Deputy District Attorney Brian Rutledge said after Omid Zaeri testified, Zaeri told the prosecutor he wanted the police to fully investigate and interview the family "so they can determine they have no ties to terrorism."
But subsequent attempts by authorities to interview Arash Zaeri have been unsuccessful.
Eman Zaeri's attorney, Ted Williams, said he had advised Arash Zaeri not to talk to police without an attorney present.
Williams has previously said the Zaeri family had fled Iran because "radical Muslims forced them to leave" because they were practicing members of the Baha'i faith.
A source close to the case who wished to remain anonymous, however, questioned the validity of the claim, saying if they were forced out of the country due to religious persecution, then why does Eman and Omid Zaeri's father still live in Tehran and run a business there.
Williams said the reason the Eman and Omid Zaeri decided to flee was because they are of college age and in Iran members of the Baha'i faith cannot attend college. He also said that in Iran it's not unlawful to kill a non-Muslim, and although the family wasn't facing threats, they were fearful.
Although Omid Zaeri wasn't asked during the grand jury proceedings why he left Iran or if religion played a role in the decision to leave, he did testify that he and his family were not Muslims and instead were practicing members of the Baha'i faith at its center in the 7000 block of West Oakey Boulevard.
Repeated calls by the Sun trying to confirm that the Zaeri family attends the center have not been returned. According to the www.bahai.org Web site, Baha'i is an independent, monotheistic religion with a worldwide following of about 5 million.
The religion rejects terrorism and war and instead promotes tolerance, economic justice, recognition of the need for universal education, elimination of all forms of racism and recognition of the full equality between women and men.
Responding to a question about whether there is evidence to suggest the Zaeris were terrorists or had connections to terrorists, Williams said, "I'll work for free for one year if this kid has any links to terrorists."
Williams said Eman Zaeri is not a criminal, but just an immature man who didn't understand how strong the reaction to his actions would be. He said Dr. John Paglini, a certified forensic psychologist who examined Eman Zaeri, has determined that Zaeri is "socially deficient."
Omid Zaeri said his little brother was babied by his mother, liked to play video games and was a practical joker.
Omid and Eman Zaeri have green cards that allow them to live and work in the United States.
Government officials have said as of now Eman Zaeri hasn't done anything to be deported for, but they said if he is convicted on local charges, then he could be deported.
A field agent of the Immigration, Customs and Enforcement Department detained Zaeri the day of the incident, but it was determined he failed to meet the requirements of possible deportation or further detaining. The federal immigration authorities released Zaeri on Aug. 12.
A spokeswoman for Immigration, Customs and Enforcement has confirmed that a department agent detained Zaeri on Aug. 1. But after reviewing the case and Zaeri's background, it was determined "it was more appropriate for local authorities to handle his case."
If Zaeri is convicted and sentenced to prison, the department would file a detainer and take custody of Zaeri after he completes his prison term at which time removal proceedings would begin, according to the spokeswoman.
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