Quazi Mohamamd Rezwanul Ahsan Nafis of Bangladesh pleaded guilty at a United States court as being involved in a plot to blow up the New York Federal Reserve building.
The court will pronounce his sentence on May 30.
Lawyers had said that the‘confession’ before the trials may help Nafis get away with lesser penalty and he may actually be able to return to Bangladesh after serving his time in prison.
Nafis, 21, told the Brooklyn Eastern District Federal Court on Thursday (local time) that he had planned to blow up the Federal Reserve building.
In his confessional statement, Nafis said he became a follower of Osama Bin Laden and plotted for a terrorist attack before he went to the US.
But he was all regrets now. “I no longer support violent jihad. I deeply regret my involvement in this case.”
The court heard the confessional statement in pin-drop silence.
Nafis faces up to life in jail in this case.
The US Department of Justice said Nafis had been charged with attempting to use ‘a weapon of mass destruction’ and provide material support to Al Qaeda. The charges were framed on Nov 15.
The FBI alleged Nafis had parked a van laden with ‘explosives’ in front of the Federal Reserve Building in Manhattan and went to the adjacent Millennium Hilton Hotel.
From the hotel, he repeatedly tried to set off the 1000-bomb by a mobile phone. The FBI said that the explosive did not detonate as it was fake.
The NYPD said that Nafis was led on by an undercover FBI agent into their trap. He was under surveillance since July after he tried to search reliable associates to carry out the attack on behalf of al-Qaeda.
Bangladesh-born Nafis went to the United States on Jan 2012 for education.
Family sources however, allege Nafis was a victim of conspiracy.
During the confession, Justice Carol Amon asked at least 25 times if Nafis was aware that he faced at least 30 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 upon confession and that there would no scope for walking out on parole or an appeal.
Nafis answered in a calm voice that he had confessed being fully aware of the consequences.
Justice Carol again asked if Nafis was confessing under promise of reduced penalty on confession.
Nafis replied back in the same calm voice, “No. I have come to understand that it is best to admit crimes.”
At one point, the Judge said Nafis was sorry for his ‘crimes’.
The courtroom was filled to the last seat during the hearing. However, no Bangladeshi diplomats were seen.
An unshaven Nafis was wearing prison clothes but seemed composed.
Special security arrangements had been made in the court for the hearing.
Nafis’ lawyer Heidi Cesare said Nafis had confessed with full responsibility. Bdnews24.com
