By IANS/AKI,
Milan : An Egypt-born Muslim preacher has been jailed here on terrorism charges by Italy’s top appeals court, officials said.
Abu Imad, a former imam at Milan’s Viale Jenner mosque, had allegedly set up a religious cell, which was recruiting suicide bombers and trafficking illegal immigrants, in Milan and in Lombardy region.
The country’s top appeals court – Court of Cassation – Wednesday upheld a prison sentence imposed on Imad by a Milan court in December 2007. The court sentenced Imad to three years and eight months in prison for conspiracy to carry out a terrorist act.
He will be transferred to the city’s San Vittore prison, officials said Thursday.
Imad was the imam at the mosque till early 2009 but was not previously arrested. Under Italian law, suspects can remain at liberty until they have completed their appeal if a judge thinks they are unlikely to flee the country or tamper with any evidence.
Ten other people were also jailed for the same offence, receiving sentences varying from two to 10 years, while four others were acquitted due to lack of evidence.