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Newspaper Reports (continued) The following articles appeared in the Syracuse Post Standard beginning Novmber 2003 to today.
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Judge schedules hearing in jail Doctor to testify on refusal to be strip-searched that could keep him from trial. Saturday, October 16, 2004 By John O'Brien Staff writer A federal judge will take the unusual step next week of going into a local prison to hear testimony from an inmate about his refusal to be strip-searched. That refusal will prevent the inmate from attending his trial.... Mordue granted a request from prosecutors to prohibit Dhafir's lawyers from bringing up at trial any reference to the motive behind the investigation into Dhafir, and to the defense's claim that he was selectively prosecuted because he's Muslim. Cannick argued that the jury should hear proof that the investigation began with the FBI trying to prove that Dhafir was defrauding Medicare to fund terrorists. Cannick said he has a document in which Medicare officials said the FBI told them that was the focus of the investigation. That document cannot be entered into evidence under Mordue's ruling, Cannick said. The judge prohibited the defense from raising the issue of terrorism, Cannick said. Dhafir was never charged with aiding terrorists. Cannick contends the other charges were "bootstrapped" after investigators couldn't prove their initial premise. "You've done all kinds of things to this man, and to his community," Cannick said at a news conference Friday. "Why not let the truth come out? Let's have a full, fair trial here. |
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Doctor seeks urgent release from jail Friday, October 15, 2004 By John O'Brien Staff writer Lawyers for a Manlius oncologist accused of illegally sending money to Iraq filed an emergency request Thursday asking a federal appeals court to release him from jail so he can attend his trial scheduled to start Monday. |
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Manlius doctor's trial put off 2 weeks more
Rafil Dhafir's lawyers, prosecutors argue whether trial can start without him. The federal court trial of Manlius oncologist Dr. Rafil Dhafir, accused of duping contributors to his DeWitt-based charity, has been delayed for another two weeks as lawyers fight over whether the trial can go forward without him. |
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Potential Dhafir jurors pre-screened on views Lawyers worried media, war may influence jurors in charity owner's trial. Monday, September 27, 2004, By John O'Brien, Staff writer When potential jurors in the trial of Dr. Rafil Dhafir go to federal court next week, they will have already been screened on their views on Arabs, Muslims and 9/11. |
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Patients say Dhafir has done them no harm His patients say Dr. Dhafir has done them no harm Monday, September 27, 2004, SEAN KIRST, POST-STANDARD COLUMNIST Alda Dingley, a cancer survivor, won't go to the doctor. She understands the risk of skipping checkups, but she's trying to hold out until her favorite oncologist returns to work. |
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Events to show support for Dhafir Panel discussion, rally among activities planned as Manlius doctor's trial nears. Sunday, September 19, 2004, By Nancy Buczek, Staff writer Dr. Rafil Dhafir's supporters plan to begin a series of activities Monday to raise awareness of the case of the Manlius doctor who is charged with defrauding people who donated money to his charity and breaking U.S. sanctions against Iraq. |
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Dr. Dhafir, charity to have one lawyer
Prosecutors claim doctor used Help the Needy's public defender for himself. Federal prosecutors claim a Manlius doctor is using his charitable organization as a "cash-strapped front" so he can get free legal help against charges that he defrauded the charity's donors and illegally sent money to Iraq. Dhafir is paying for his own lawyer, Deveraux Cannick. But a judge last year appointed lawyer Scott Porter to represent Help the Needy after the charity's assets were frozen as a result of criminal charges against Dhafir and three other Help the Needy officials. The charity itself was also charged. |
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Judge says Dhafir's constitutional rights weren't violated
Mordue rules that Muslim physician hasn't been selectively prosecuted. Federal prosecutors did not discriminate against a Muslim physician by charging him with violating U.S. sanctions against Iraq, a judge ruled Monday. |
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Human rights group loses federal court ruling
Voices in the Wilderness has been fighting fine for violating anti-Iraq sanctions. A federal judge has rejected claims that the human rights group Voices in the Wilderness was justified in violating U.S. sanctions against Iraq. Several Central New York activists have traveled to Iraq with Voices in the Wilderness to oppose sanctions against the country and to oppose the U.S.-led war there. |
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Court delays ruling on Dhafir's bailThursday, August 12, 2004 By John O'Brien Court delays ruling on Dhafir's bail; Lawyers dispute whether Help the Needy's founder should be released. |
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Dhafir's bail request again denied Doctor, Help the Needy founder, remains in jail after 18 months. Trial is Sept. 27. A federal appeals court Monday denied a Manlius oncologist's request to be freed from jail at least until his trial next month on charges of defrauding people who donated money to his charity and breaking U.S. sanctions against Iraq. |
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Manlius doctor seeks dismissal of charges Thursday, July 29, 2004 By Renee K. Gadoua Staff writer For nearly 18 months, Rafil Dhafir and his supporters have claimed federal prosecutors investigated his charity as part of a national witch hunt targeting Muslims |
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Manlius doctor accused of fraudFederal indictment says Dr. Rafil Dhafir deceived donors to Help the Needy. A Manlius doctor already facing charges of illegally sending money to Iraq was accused Wednesday of defrauding donors to his charity by secretly invest- ing their money in his own business. |
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Dhafir again denied bail Manlius doctor has been held at county correctional facility since February 2003. Friday, February 06, 2004, By Jennifer Jacobs For the fourth time, a federal judge has denied bail to a Manlius doctor accused of illegally sending money to Iraq through his DeWitt-based charity. Thursday's ruling means that, despite his supporters' arguments that it's unusual for white-collar crime defendants to remain behind bars before trial, Dr. Rafil Dhafir will stay at the Onondaga County Correctional Facility in Jamesville. |
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Dhafir lawyer's status at issue Also, doctor's former business partner suspected of link to anti-U.S. group. Friday, January 23, 2004 By John O'Brien |
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Judge to decide on bail for Manlius doctor Dr. Rafil Dhafir is risk to flee, prosecutors say. Not so, counters lawyer. |
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Doctor seeks bail again, Lawyers disagree over release of oncologist accused of evading Iraqi sanctions. Thursday, January 22, 2004 By John O'Brien Although it's unusual for white-collar crime defendants to remain behind bars before trial, a Manlius oncologist accused of breaking sanctions against Iraq has failed three times in the past year to get a federal judge to turn him loose. |
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Holy month ends for Muslims Speakers at Eid il-Fitr service offer support for the jailed Dr. Rafil Dhafir. Wednesday, November 26, 2003 By Renee K. Gadoua The president of the Islamic Society of Central New York opened the Eid il-Fitr service Tuesday with a greeting for the local doctor accused of illegally sending money to Iraq. |
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Dhafir lawyers request bail Defense lawyer accuses government of creating hardship for Manlius doctor December 25, 2003, John Obrien. |
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More than 100 join rally for jailed doctor.Saturday, November 15, 2003; By Ngoc Huynh |
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Protest backs jailed doctor Syracuse event one of eight to decry prosecution of those involved in aid to Iraqi poor. Friday, November 14, 2003; By John O'Brien |
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