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Secret terror trial transcripts reveal accused's luxury lifestyle Secret terror trial transcripts reveal accused's luxury lifestyle
(about 5 hours later)
Court documents have revealed how a man arrested and accused of plotting a Mumbai-style attack enjoyed a billionaire’s lifestyle with people who were “good friends” of Princes William and Harry.Court documents have revealed how a man arrested and accused of plotting a Mumbai-style attack enjoyed a billionaire’s lifestyle with people who were “good friends” of Princes William and Harry.
The newly released transcripts from Britain’s first secret terrorism trial detail part of Erol Incedal’s defence, which was heard behind locked doors in the interests of national security.The newly released transcripts from Britain’s first secret terrorism trial detail part of Erol Incedal’s defence, which was heard behind locked doors in the interests of national security.
However, the crux of the case against the law student from south London remains unknown despite a high court challenge by the media citing the principle of open justice.However, the crux of the case against the law student from south London remains unknown despite a high court challenge by the media citing the principle of open justice.
Incedal, 27, was cleared of targeting the former prime minister Tony Blair or plotting a Mumbai-style attack after an Old Bailey retrial in April, but was convicted of possessing a document useful for terrorism and jailed for three and a half years.Incedal, 27, was cleared of targeting the former prime minister Tony Blair or plotting a Mumbai-style attack after an Old Bailey retrial in April, but was convicted of possessing a document useful for terrorism and jailed for three and a half years.
Related: Why is the crux of the Incedal case a secret? You're not allowed to knowRelated: Why is the crux of the Incedal case a secret? You're not allowed to know
His friend Mounir Rarmoul-Bouhadjar, also 27 and from London, admitted having the same bomb-making manual on a memory card and was jailed for three years.His friend Mounir Rarmoul-Bouhadjar, also 27 and from London, admitted having the same bomb-making manual on a memory card and was jailed for three years.
The court records relay Incedal’s account of a luxurious lifestyle in the months before his arrest in October 2013. They explain how he came to be living in a flat in Paddington with no income apart from a student loan, and why he was driving a Mercedes and wearing a £15,000 watch when he was arrested.The court records relay Incedal’s account of a luxurious lifestyle in the months before his arrest in October 2013. They explain how he came to be living in a flat in Paddington with no income apart from a student loan, and why he was driving a Mercedes and wearing a £15,000 watch when he was arrested.
The married father-of-two told how he struck up a friendship with fellow student Ruslan Mamedov in 2007. Mamedov was a “gofer” for an Azerbaijani minister’s billionaire sons, who allegedly liked to attend “very expensive” west London nightclubs and lounges such as Tramp, Mamounia Lounge and Salt, Incedal said.The married father-of-two told how he struck up a friendship with fellow student Ruslan Mamedov in 2007. Mamedov was a “gofer” for an Azerbaijani minister’s billionaire sons, who allegedly liked to attend “very expensive” west London nightclubs and lounges such as Tramp, Mamounia Lounge and Salt, Incedal said.
Defence counsel Joel Bennathan QC asked Incedal about evidence from a police bug planted in his car which recorded him bragging to Rarmoul-Bouhadjar about having “£20,000 in my pocket”.Defence counsel Joel Bennathan QC asked Incedal about evidence from a police bug planted in his car which recorded him bragging to Rarmoul-Bouhadjar about having “£20,000 in my pocket”.
Incedal explained: “Ruslan, my friend, he had four credit cards. Each card he could withdraw about £4,000 to £5,000. Because he would be spending that evening partying and drinking he would give me the money to look after.Incedal explained: “Ruslan, my friend, he had four credit cards. Each card he could withdraw about £4,000 to £5,000. Because he would be spending that evening partying and drinking he would give me the money to look after.
“He had billionaire friends and he was basically working for them. They used to spend £20,000 to £30,000 in clubs every night so he would take out a lot and keep some of it for himself – not telling his boss, obviously.“He had billionaire friends and he was basically working for them. They used to spend £20,000 to £30,000 in clubs every night so he would take out a lot and keep some of it for himself – not telling his boss, obviously.
“He would ask me to look after it in case they looked in his jacket and saw large amounts of money and then I would return it to him the following day.”“He would ask me to look after it in case they looked in his jacket and saw large amounts of money and then I would return it to him the following day.”
Asked if he really was carrying £20,000, Incedal said: “I actually wasn’t. It was 17 [thousand pounds] or something, but I rounded it up to show off to Mounir and when we went out that evening I was showing off that I had a lot of money.”Asked if he really was carrying £20,000, Incedal said: “I actually wasn’t. It was 17 [thousand pounds] or something, but I rounded it up to show off to Mounir and when we went out that evening I was showing off that I had a lot of money.”
Incedal told jurors that Mamedov’s billionaire friends knew what he was doing “but for them it was like five or 10 [pounds] so they didn’t really care”.Incedal told jurors that Mamedov’s billionaire friends knew what he was doing “but for them it was like five or 10 [pounds] so they didn’t really care”.
Asked who these “fabulously wealthy people” were, he said: “They are sons of a minister in Azerbaijan – good friends with Prince William and Harry.”Asked who these “fabulously wealthy people” were, he said: “They are sons of a minister in Azerbaijan – good friends with Prince William and Harry.”
Incedal went on to describe how his friend would take him and Rarmoul-Bouhadjar on spending sprees in Harrods and Selfridges so they would look the part in exclusive bars.Incedal went on to describe how his friend would take him and Rarmoul-Bouhadjar on spending sprees in Harrods and Selfridges so they would look the part in exclusive bars.
“Me and Mounir, we didn’t really have expensive clothes so ... before Ruslan started taking us, he would always take us to places like Harrods, Selfridges, and buy us expensive clothes to go to these places.”“Me and Mounir, we didn’t really have expensive clothes so ... before Ruslan started taking us, he would always take us to places like Harrods, Selfridges, and buy us expensive clothes to go to these places.”
When he was arrested in the Mercedes that Ruslan helped him buy, Incedal said he was “quite kitted out” in a £15,000 diamond Rado watch from Harrods, a £500 Hugo Boss jacket, a £300 pair of shoes and carrying a Louis Vuitton wallet.When he was arrested in the Mercedes that Ruslan helped him buy, Incedal said he was “quite kitted out” in a £15,000 diamond Rado watch from Harrods, a £500 Hugo Boss jacket, a £300 pair of shoes and carrying a Louis Vuitton wallet.
He added: “They are so wealthy, in Hyde Park, near Park Lane, I think it was a rollercoaster, like a fun fair. And Ruslan is scared of heights and stuff. So they said to him they would give him €20,000 if he went on the rollercoaster.He added: “They are so wealthy, in Hyde Park, near Park Lane, I think it was a rollercoaster, like a fun fair. And Ruslan is scared of heights and stuff. So they said to him they would give him €20,000 if he went on the rollercoaster.
“Other times they will say to him: ‘If you can chat up this girl, I will give you 10 grand, 20 grand.’ So it was a joke for them really, money.”“Other times they will say to him: ‘If you can chat up this girl, I will give you 10 grand, 20 grand.’ So it was a joke for them really, money.”
Mamedov rented the flat in Sussex Gardens, Paddington, for the billionaires but allowed Incedal to stay there after his marriage broke down and his wife told him to leave the family home.Mamedov rented the flat in Sussex Gardens, Paddington, for the billionaires but allowed Incedal to stay there after his marriage broke down and his wife told him to leave the family home.
The defendant said that although they owned a house near the Royal Albert Hall, a £10m home in Hampstead and another near Edgware Road, the billionaires needed somewhere central “to party” with women they had met in bars.The defendant said that although they owned a house near the Royal Albert Hall, a £10m home in Hampstead and another near Edgware Road, the billionaires needed somewhere central “to party” with women they had met in bars.
But the billionaires regularly flew in their private jet to Monaco and elsewhere, so Mamedov and he could use the Paddington flat for their own parties while the brothers were away, Incedal said.But the billionaires regularly flew in their private jet to Monaco and elsewhere, so Mamedov and he could use the Paddington flat for their own parties while the brothers were away, Incedal said.
Incedal also gave details about his trip with Rarmoul-Bouhadjar to the Syrian border in Turkey where he learned about Kalashnikov rifles and met a jihadi called Ahmed who told him to go home and do some “shit”.Incedal also gave details about his trip with Rarmoul-Bouhadjar to the Syrian border in Turkey where he learned about Kalashnikov rifles and met a jihadi called Ahmed who told him to go home and do some “shit”.
But Incedal, who has Turkish ancestry, repeatedly denied that he had actually planned to carry out any sort of terror attack in the UK.But Incedal, who has Turkish ancestry, repeatedly denied that he had actually planned to carry out any sort of terror attack in the UK.
The vast majority of the trial was heard behind closed doors, with some in the presence of 10 accredited journalists and a small proportion in open court.The vast majority of the trial was heard behind closed doors, with some in the presence of 10 accredited journalists and a small proportion in open court.
The Lord Chief Justice is expected to give his ruling on the media challenge in January. The lord chief justice is expected to give his ruling on the media challenge in January.