PHILADELPHIA (AP) - The Latest on the immigration fraud trial of Mohammed Jabbateh (all times local):
4:15 p.m.
A jury has been selected in the immigration fraud case of a man prosecutors say committed war crimes in Liberia and then lied about his past to enter the U.S.
Fifty-one-year-old Mohammed Jabbateh on Monday was in federal court in Philadelphia on charges that he lied on immigration forms while seeking asylum and residency nearly two decades ago.
Prosecutors say Jabbateh was a high-ranking member of Liberian rebel groups for much of the 1990s. They have lined up several witnesses who claim to have seen him order or commit war atrocities.
Jabbateh’s attorney says his client denies taking part in the violent acts.
He was arrested last year outside Philadelphia. Court proceedings are expected to continue Tuesday.
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1:30 a.m.
A man who federal prosecutors say committed war crimes in Liberia is scheduled to go on trial in Philadelphia on charges that he lied about his past to enter the U.S.
Court records show that 51-year-old Mohammed Jabbateh will go on trial on Monday after being charged with lying on his immigration forms while seeking asylum and residency nearly two decades ago.
Prosecutors say Jabbateh was a high-ranking member of Liberian rebel groups for much of the 1990s. Officials say he committed or made others murder civilians, conscript child soldiers and publicly rape women.
His attorney did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment, but court documents say Jabbateh denies committing violent acts.
He was arrested last year and had been living outside of Philadelphia.
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