January 18, 2002
Framed? Confused by the "Egyptian Radio" story from yesterday regarding the student released from custody after an aviation radio was allegedly found in a safe, along with a Koran and a gold medallion, in his New York hotel room? You’re probably not alone.
All of the news reports I saw and read indicated that Abdallah Higazy was released yesterday after another guest, a private pilot, claimed that the radio that was found in Higazy’s room safe was his. This raised the obvious question: how did the radio get into Higazy’s room safe to begin with? Here’s the AP report, which seems to have been the basis for yesterday’s news reports:
This is where that fine word "allegedly" would come in handy. A private pilot staying one floor below Higazy, who had no knowledge of either the case or Higazy, inquired about his missing aviation radio, at which point investigators questioned the hotel employee who had originally discovered the radio. According to the Times, "On Wednesday morning, the case fell apart completely. Agents reinterviewed the hotel employee and he said he recalled finding the radio on a table in Mr. Higazy's room, not in the safe."
So this case might be a simple mistake, an investigative screwup, a plant by an attention-seeking hotel employee, or something else entirely. I'm guessing that the FBI isn't finished talking to that hotel employee.
All of the news reports I saw and read indicated that Abdallah Higazy was released yesterday after another guest, a private pilot, claimed that the radio that was found in Higazy’s room safe was his. This raised the obvious question: how did the radio get into Higazy’s room safe to begin with? Here’s the AP report, which seems to have been the basis for yesterday’s news reports:
Detainee Forgives FBI for Detention
By LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) - Shouting "nothing tops freedom,'' an Egyptian student forgave the FBI on Thursday for throwing him in jail after an aviation radio was found in his hotel room near the World Trade Center on Sept. 11.
This is where that fine word "allegedly" would come in handy. A private pilot staying one floor below Higazy, who had no knowledge of either the case or Higazy, inquired about his missing aviation radio, at which point investigators questioned the hotel employee who had originally discovered the radio. According to the Times, "On Wednesday morning, the case fell apart completely. Agents reinterviewed the hotel employee and he said he recalled finding the radio on a table in Mr. Higazy's room, not in the safe."
So this case might be a simple mistake, an investigative screwup, a plant by an attention-seeking hotel employee, or something else entirely. I'm guessing that the FBI isn't finished talking to that hotel employee.
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