Alruhany remains in U.S detention [Archives:2006/983/Local News]

Associated Press, Sept. 17 ) Ameen Ali Alruhany, 56, who was accused of trying to supply stolen U.S. military equipment and defense secrets to Yemen was denied bail Friday after a prosecutor said he had ties to a terrorist financier who plotted to help al-Qaeda and Hamas.

In attempts to keep Alruhany, behind bars, prosecutors said a search of his house turned up contact information for Sheik Mohammed Ali Al-Moayad in Ali's address book.

Moayad, a Yemeni cleric serving a 75-year prison sentence, was convicted in New York last year of conspiring to support and attempting to support Al-Qaeda and the Palestinian, and of actually supporting Hamas (which U.S government considered an extremist group) according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Faller.

Alruhnay pleaded not guilty last week to felony charges of conspiracy to possess and transmit defense information, to unlawfully export defense articles, to possess stolen government property, and attempted unlawful export of defense articles.

Also during the hearing, Faller claimed that an investigation involving audio and video surveillance showed that Ali represented himself as an agent of the Yemeni government and that prosecutors may bring espionage charges.

Defense attorney David A. Torres said his client was surprised by the charges. “But he's also strong. He looks forward to his day in court””

Alruhany wore a bright red Fresno County-issued jumpsuit in court and sat with his head bowed during the hearing. An interpreter translated the proceedings into Arabic for him.

Alruhany is one of the three Yemenis who became American citizens; Mohamed Al-Rahimi