Pak govt vouches for Dawood aide character

■ JASBIR MOTI is a ‘ top lieutenant’ in underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s organised crime syndicate

London, Sept. 27: Jabir Moti, allegedly a “top lieutenant” in underworld don Dawood Ibrahim’s organised crime syndicate, was denied bail for the second time by a UK court on Thursday, even as the Pakistani government vouched for him as a man of “good character”.

The letter from Pakistani High Commissioner, Sahebzada Ahmed Khan, was submitted to the judge during Moti’s ongoing extradition case hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in London in support of an application for his bail, which was denied and he was directed to appear for the next hearing in the case on October 19.

Moti has been described in UK court proceedings as a “senior member” and “top lieutenant” of D Company.

Mumbai bomb blasts’ accused Dawood Ibrahim was not mentioned by name in the UK court but the judge was told that the leader of network was based in Pakistan.

Moti, referred to in court as Jabir Motiwala, was arrested from a London hotel last month and is fighting extradition to the US on money laundering and extortion charges.

The 51- year- old had already been denied bail at an earlier hearing in August and to back up his second bail application on Thursday, his defence team presented a letter from the Pakistani High Commissioner among the many sureties that he would not jump bail and abscond.

“That ( Pakistan High Commission) is a pretty unusual and unequivocal support,” said barrister James Lewis, representing Moti.