Old Bridge man charged with supporting Hizballah
Accused of helping to broadcast terrorist group's TV station
BY JESSICA SMITH
Staff Writer

OLD BRIDGE - A township man was arrested at his home Nov. 20 on charges that he conspired to broadcast a foreign terrorist group's television station.

In an 11-count indictment from the U.S. Attorney's Office, Saleh Elahwal, 53, of the Highpointe development, off Route 516, was charged with providing material support to the Lebanese group Hizballah. He was released the following day.

Authorities said Elahwal and a second suspect, Javed (aka John) Iqbal, 42, of Staten Island, N.Y., worked together to bring Hizballah's television station, Al Manar, to HDTV Ltd. customers in New York from September 2005 to August 2006. The men are also charged with working to provide satellite broadcasting equipment to Al Manar.

Hizballah, also known as Hezbollah, is described as a Shi'a Islamist militant and political organization based in Lebanon.

The indictment states that between December 2005 and March 2006, HDTV received close to $28,000 a month from Al Manar representatives in exchange for the broadcast.

"Javed Iqbal and Saleh Elahwal engaged in transactions that support the terrorist organizations Hizballah and Al Manar, and did so for financial profit," said Michael Garcia, U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. "As terrorist organizations become more sophisticated, it is critical that we respond using all the enforcement tools the law provides."

Elahwal pleaded not guilty at his arraignment the day of his arrest. He was freed on a personal recognizance bond of $400,000 secured by his property, signatures from two financially responsible parties, and $25,000, said his attorney Edward Sapone, of Brooklyn, N.Y.

"He has done nothing but serve our community for 22 years as a dentist, serving people from all walks of life. Not just the wealthy, but the poorest of the poor, and he has no criminal history, either here or abroad," Sapone said. "He has a tremendous respect for this country."

Elahwal works as a dentist in Brooklyn. He, his wife, and his daughter are all U.S. citizens, Sapone said.

Mayor Jim Phillips, a neighbor of Elahwal's in Highpointe, said he does not know the man, aside from waving to each other in passing.

"For all intents, he is a good neighbor," Phillips said. "There has never been a bit of trouble at his house."

Iqbal, a permanent resident alien, was arrested on related charges in August. After his arrest, search warrants were executed at his home and at HDTV's Brooklyn headquarters by federal law enforcement officials. He was on electronic monitoring when he surrendered Nov. 20.

Both Hizballah and Al Manar are categorized as terrorist groups by the U.S. government.

An initial court hearing on the charges is set for Jan. 8.

If convicted, both men could face a maximum sentence of 110 years in prison. The investigation of the two men's alleged involvement with the terrorist group is continuing, according to law enforcement officials.