On Wednesday, federal fees were imposed in opposition to an Afghan accused in 2008 of the kidnapping of former New York Times journalist David Rohde and two others held by armed kidnappers for more than seven months.
Haji Najibullah, 44, brought to New York from Ukraine and faces six fees in connection with the kidnapping. Rohde later wrote about his ordeal and escape with Afghan journalist Tahir Ludin.
Rohde and Ludin were named in Federal Court documents describing the fees opposed to Najibullah, however, the timing of the occasions described coincided with that of the American journalist.
“Journalists threaten their lives by offering us data on conflict zones, and no matter how long it takes, our determination to locate and hold accountable those who attack and harm them and other Americans will never falter,” said John Demers, the leader of Justice. Department’s National Security Division. ” The defendant, like many others before and others to come, will now face justice in a U. S. court. “
Najibullah is accused of organizing the November 2008 kidnapping with co-conspirators who then forced the hostages to cross the Afghan border into Pakistan, where they were held for seven months.
During their captivity, the victims were reportedly forced to pass through Najibullah to make phone calls and videos as part of negotiations for their release.
“In one of the Array videos . . . the American journalist forced to beg for his life while a guard pointed a gun device at (his) face,” the prosecutors said.
Najibullah is charged with hostage-taking, conspiracy to take hostages, kidnapping, conspiracy to devote kidnapping and two counts of and possession of a weapon device to devote violent crimes.
Each of the six charges carries a life sentence.