Morning:
8°c
Interpreter 'betrayed Britain after suffering racism in the Army'
Paul Cheston, Courts Correspondent13 Oct 2008
THE interpreter for the British commander of allied troops in Afghanistan betrayed his country after becoming embittered by racism, the Old Bailey heard today.
Corporal Daniel James, 45, secretly passed information to Iran, the country of his birth, through a contact in Kabul, the jury was told.
He was not motivated by politics or ideology but from ¡°a mixture of elements¡±.
¡°He had become aggrieved and somewhat bitter at his lack of promotion, particularly given his work in Afghanistan,¡± said Mark Dennis QC, prosecuting. ¡°He began to complain to others about what he perceived as discrimination against him in the Army ¡ª linking racist attitudes to his lack of promotion.¡±
But Mr Dennis pointed out much of his motivation was also down to ¡°the character of the man himself¡±, an extrovert, self-important and ¡°something of a Walter Mitty character¡±. As a result he formed a secret relationship with Colonel Mohammed Hossein Heydari at the Iranian embassy in Kabul.
¡°His loyalty to this country wavered and he turned to Iran,¡± said Mr Dennis.
¡°He turned his back on those with whom he was serving in Afghanistan and sought to become an agent for a foreign power.¡±
Tehran-born James had become a British citizen in 1986, holds both a British and Iranian passport and took his Anglicised name by deed poll. He joined the Territorial Army and became a corporal with the Princess of Wales¡¯s Royal Regiment.
In 2006 he was called up to serve in Afghanistan as an interpreter, using his knowledge of the Afghan tongue Dari and his native language Farsi.
In May he was transferred to work for General David Richards, the overall commander of the multi-national force.
But within six months James had established his relationship with Heydari and ¡°no doubt found it as something exciting and special,¡± said Mr Dennis.
He opened an internet account under a false name and sent his contact an email pledging ¡°I am at your service¡±.
The coded message made six key points, the court heard:
¡ñ He revealed he had a computer for him, ¡°the one you told me¡±.
¡ñ He had taken ¡°seven more pictures from those whose job is black¡±.
¡ñ He told him ¡°they are setting up a military camp ¡ª all the ground forces are there ... possibly close to a city called Alamara¡±.
¡ñ He now had full details of a contact who can give messages to ¡°someone¡¯s sister in the Parliament¡±.
¡ñ He had taken a copy of his passport.
¡ñ He spoke of ¡°my friend¡± who was waiting for the signature of the Defence Minister ¡°and then he will come to you¡±. Mr Dennis said: ¡°James clearly believed that the information he was giving to Heydari would be useful to him.¡±
James was arrested in December 2006 when his contact with Heydari had only lasted three months. Police found in his belongings a USB memory stick with two ¡°NATO-confidential¡± documents on it.
These provided a daily update on military operations in Afghanistan, including movements of troops and intelligence.
In his room at the Kabul base police found a computer disc with photographs of the Predator spyplane and data on UK, US and NATO aircraft capability and weapons systems. James had no legitimate reason for having any of this information, the court heard.
In police interviews, James said he could have been set up and that he had been treated in the army ¡°like a foreigner¡±, accusing some officers of racism.
James, of Brighton, has denied two charges under the Official Secrets Act.
He has also denied a third count under common law of wilful misconduct by offering his services to a foreign power.
The case continues.
