Extradition Papers for Iranian Sought in Parts Thefts Still Not Sent

Federal prosecutors said Monday they have yet to forward an extradition request for an Iranian living in London who was indicted more than 16 months ago as a key figure in a San Diego ring that smuggled stolen American military parts to Iran.

However, U.S. District Judge Leland Nielsen suggested Monday that Saeid Asefi Inanlou would probably never be extradited. Nielsen earlier this year ordered Assistant U.S. Atty. Phillip Halpern, the prosecutor in the case, to extradite Inanlou. The judge made his comments Monday at the sentencing of a defendant in the case.

“I have a very definite feeling that the real bad actors have been before me so far--depending if I ever get the one in England, and I doubt we ever will,” said Nielsen, who did not elaborate further.

Inanlou, an Iranian businessman, was charged in July, 1985, along with several U.S. defendants with receiving the parts from ringleaders Franklin and Edgardo Agustin. Inanlou was arrested July 12, 1985, by British authorities at Heathrow Airport.

After his arrest, U.S. officials requested an extradition hold on Inanlou, but the British asked for more details about his involvement in the smuggling operation. At the time, U.S. Customs officials were told by British authorities that the American charges against Inanlou did not appear to be extraditable offenses under British law. Inanlou was subsequently charged by British authorities with violating a 1981 exports control order that pertains to military equipment and released on about $150,000 bail.

Halpern, a prosecutor in the case, said in a telephone interview Nov. 7 that extradition papers had been submitted and American officials were waiting for a British response to the request.

On Monday, Chief Assistant U.S. Atty. Peter Bowie, said it was also his understanding that prosecutors were awaiting a response from the British government on the extradition request. But after he was asked to double check, Bowie called back and told a reporter that “we haven’t sent it to them.”

Bowie declined to say why it has taken prosecutors almost 16 months to put together an extradition request, but he added that extradition papers might be sent to British authorities “by the end of the year.”

Meanwhile, most of Inanlou’s co-defendants have pleaded guilty and six have been sentenced to prison by Nielsen. Edgardo Agustin is to be sentenced today and Franklin Agustin, who is hospitalized, will be sentenced in December.

After Monday’s sentencing, Halpern expressed surprise over Nielsen’s comments regarding the chances for Inanlou’s extradition.

“I have no idea why the judge said that. The extradition is pending. We are proceeding expeditiously,” Halpern said. He declined a reporter’s request to explain the differences in his earlier comment about Inanlou’s extradition and his comment on Monday that he is “proceeding expeditiously” to bring the Iranian to trial.

Lloyd Jeans, Inanlou’s London attorney, said that the British and U.S. charges against his client have not prevented him from “doing a lot of traveling.” Jeans declined to talk about his client or the charges against him, but said that he does not have much occasion to talk to Inanlou.

“He has instructed me not to say anything to the media. Mr. (Inanlou) travels a lot and I am not sure where he is at the moment,” Jeans said. “I haven’t had occasion recently to contact him. . . . I can’t remember when I last spoke to him.”

A defense attorney who represents a defendant sentenced in the case said that Jeans traveled to San Diego to meet with U.S. authorities after Inanlou’s indictment. The attorney, who asked not to be identified, said that he also met with Jeans.

“He told me in no uncertain terms that Inanlou wasn’t going to be extradited,” the attorney said. “He said that he was certain of that.”