NY man charged over arms exports to Malaysia

NEW YORK, July 19 (Reuters) US. authorities charged a New York man today with illegally exporting to Malaysia parts for F-5 and F-14 military fighter jets that officials said were likely destined for Iran.

Jilani Humayun, 59, a resident of Long Island, NY, has been charged with violating the Arms Export Control Act, conspiracy to commit mail fraud and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted.

''Humayun is ... is alleged to have knowingly shipped technology as dangerous as F-5 and F-14 parts to Malaysia without any regard for the ultimate destination,'' US Attorney Michael Garcia said in a statement.

''As is well-documented in public reports, the sole customer of F-14 parts is the Iranian Air Force,'' he said.

Prosecutors said that in 2003 Humayun, whose nationality was not immediately available, had unsuccessfully applied for an export license to send military equipment to a company in Malaysia.

But then he set up a company called Vash International and between January 2004 and May 2006 exported to Malaysia F-5 and F-14 fighter-jet parts, as well as certain Chinook helicopter parts, in 11 unauthorized shipments, prosecutors said.

''Humayun also acknowledged during an interview that the (Malaysian) company is Vash International's largest customer and that Humayun did not know who the 'end users' are of the items that were shipped,'' authorities said in a statement.

Reuters MP VP0247