The Vancouver, November 4, 2004
Sun
Convicted terrorist Inderjit Singh Reyat did everything he could to
protect other conspirators involved in the Air India bombing, including
co-accused Ajaib Singh Bagri and Ripudaman Singh Malik, Crown prosecutor
Gordon Matei argued Wednesday.
Matei said Reyat, who pleaded guilty to manslaughter last year after
admitting a minor role in the bombing, was only willing to pin the terrorist
attack on suspected mastermind Talwinder Singh Parmar because he is
dead.
Reyat testified as a Crown witness in September, 2003, but refused
to identify others involved in the plot, except for Parmar. He claimed
that he only purchased gunpowder, a Micronta clock and a relay to help
Parmar build a bomb to be used in India.
Matei told Justice Ian Bruce Josephson that much of Reyat's evidence
"must be rejected" because it "is not only internally
inconsistent, but defies logic and common sense."
"It is contradicted by the evidence of other witnesses who were
called and it is contradicted by facts that have been established in
the admissions," Matei said.
He provided Josephson with a transcript of Reyat's testimony at the
trial to illustrate what he said were the contradictions and inconsistencies
throughout.
"Reyat's evidence was replete with lies. It is impossible to count
them all. There were so many lies, it is hard to believe he was saying
them," Matei said.
Reyat was convicted in 1991 of building the bomb that exploded in a
suitcase from Vancouver at Tokyo's Narita Airport on June 23, 1985 as
it was being transferred to an Air India flight.
He was charged in the same-day bombing of Air India Flight 182 in June
2001.
Malik and Bagri are charged in both bombings, which the Crown alleges
were part of a plot to exact revenge on the Indian government for its
attack on the Golden Temple, Sikhism's holiest shrine, in June 1984.
Matei pointed to Reyat's admission that "he became more upset
about the Indian government after the attack."
At one point during his testimony, Reyat claimed Parmar asked him to
build a bomb after the temple attack, but also claimed that Parmar's
request had come before June 1984.
Matei suggested that it is simply unbelievable Reyat would attempt
to build a bomb for Parmar, but not ask what it was to be used for.
"Reyat testified that he didn't even wonder why Parmar needed
this device," Matei said.
He said the evidence all points to a conspiracy headed by Parmar, but
which also involved Reyat, the two other co-accused and others who have
never been charged.
"The evidence proves that Parmar asked Reyat to build two bombs
and it was the intent of Parmar and other co-conspirators that those
bombs be loaded onto two Air India airplanes," Matei said. "Their
intention was to destroy both planes and kill all on board. Parmar received
assistance in the conspiracy, not only from Reyat, Malik and Bagri,
but also from a number of other co-conspirators.
Matei noted the suspicious responses of Reyat when he claimed not to
know the identity of a man dubbed Mr. X who stayed with him in Duncan
for several days and to whom Reyat claimed to have provided the bomb
components.
Reyat claimed he got Mr. X's phone number in Toronto, but never asked
for his name. He could not explain on the witness stand how he could
have called the person if he didn't know who to ask for.
"Despite knowing that Mr. X would be taking over from him and
making the bomb, Reyat never asked Mr. X what it was going to be used
for," Matei noted.
Matei said all the forensic evidence collected by Japanese investigators
proves Reyat purchased the components and worked with others, including
Mr. X, in the plot right up until both bombs were checked in at Vancouver
International Airport on June 22, 1985.
In fact, Reyat, who lived in Duncan, was seen purchasing two batteries
at Auto Marine Electric in Burnaby on the morning of June 22, 1985,
Matei said.
"Reyat's evidence that he just happened to be on the mainland
on June 22, 1985 for the purpose of fixing his brother's truck should
be rejected as a lie," Matei said, noting that a witness saw Reyat
buy the batteries with another man although Reyat testified he was alone
at the time.
"Reyat lied to protect the identity of one of the co-conspirators,"
Matei suggested.
The fact Malik financially supported Reyat's family for years is proof
of their link in the conspiracy," Matei said.
"Reyat's involvement in these offences was also demonstrated by
the post-offence conduct of Malik who, for many years, provided financial
assistance in the amount of many thousands of dollars to Mrs. Reyat,"
he said.
Matei also pointed to the fact that Reyat claimed to never have asked
Bagri or Malik about the Air India bombing, despite being in jail together
for two years prior to his guilty plea.