An imam from Trinidad and Tobago serving a life sentence for his role in a plot to blow up fuel supplies at John F Kennedy Airport lost his appeal against conviction today.
Kareem Ibrahim had challenged his conviction in the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeal in New York after being convicted at a trial in May 2011.
Ibrahim was accused of being part of a four-man team who had planned to blow up fuel tanks and a pipeline at JFK from 2006-2007.
The Muslim community leader had provided his co-conspirators with advice on how to attract financing in Iran and how to avoid being detected by US authorities, according to investigators.
But he was arrested at his home in Trinidad in June 2007 and extradited to the United States.
He was eventually sentenced to life in prison in February last year, but lodged an appeal on the grounds that there was no evidence he had intended to join the bomb plot, that his sentence was excessive and the jury at his trial had not been properly selected.
The Court of Appeal rejected each of his arguments.
Two other plotters, both from Guyana, are also serving life in prison for their part in the plot. The fourth participant was sentenced to 15 years after pleading guilty.
