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Attorney Says He Was Dodging Draft in Somalia
Portland, May 30, 2003 (Koin.com) - A local Muslim leader arrested by the Joint Terrorism Task Force was sentenced to probation on Thursday. Sheik Mohamed Kariye was arrested in September at Portland International Airport after customs officials apparently detected TNT residue on his bags.
The screeners' findings were later proven inaccurate. However, in March, Kariye pleaded guilty to having a false Social Security number and to defrauding the Oregon Health Plan.
Attorney Stanley Cohen said that Kariye gave false information because he was desperate to leave his native Somalia before being drafted into war.
"If you're in the middle age bracket, you were forced to go into the military. But if you were too old or too young, the government allowed you to leave. Essentially what happened was the family changed the date of birth to get him out of Somalia," Cohen said.
On Thursday, Kariye was sentenced to five years of probation and a $6,000 fine.
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