NEW YORK – An appeals court in New York has overturned terrorism convictions that led to long prison terms for a Yemeni cleric and his deputy.
The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Thursday that the cleric, Mohammed Ali Al-Moayad, and Mohammed Mohsen Zayed, can have new trials.
It said the convictions for conspiring to provide material support to Hamas and al-Qaida came after the men were deprived of a fair trial.
The jury heard evidence that the defendants met with government informants in Germany in January 2003.
One informant testified that al-Moayad had boasted of giving Osama bin Laden $20 million in the years before Sept. 11.
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