LIMA18
15th Apr 2004, 02:27
Auckland student pleads guilty to sitting pilot exams for Saudi
08.04.2004
11.45am
An anti-terrorism investigation by the American CIA and New Zealand Security Intelligence Service has prompted a student pilot who impersonated a Saudi national at Tauranga Airport to make a shock guilty plea.
In a surprise turnaround, Kevin Anthony Lenaghan, 27, admitted sitting pilot exams for an Arab friend who struggled with English and had already failed more than a dozen tests to get his licence.
The Aucklander initially denied a charge of impersonating the son of a Saudi billionaire -- but made an unscheduled appearance in Tauranga District Court last week and pleaded guilty. He had been due to appear at a later date.
Lenaghan's arrest at Tauranga Airport sparked a national security alert in July and a widespread investigation involving the SIS the CIA and FBI -- along with the New Zealand police and aviation security agencies.
The inquiries, which partly prompted Lenaghan to change his plea, found he had no terrorist links but was merely a "hapless" petty criminal.
Lenaghan's defence counsel, Craig Tuck, told the court that his client changed his plea because he got a "reality check".
Looking back with "20/20 hindsight", Lenaghan realised the stupidity of his actions, Mr Tuck said.
With the raft of high-powered security agencies investigating him, Lenaghan realised how seriously his actions were viewed and that things had got out of hand.
Through his counsel, Lenaghan told the court that he sat the exams because he felt sorry for a "sick Arab" -- fellow aviation student Naif Hussein Al-Anazy.
They were both studying for private and commercial pilot licences at Ardmore Flying School, South Auckland.
Mr Al-Anazy failed 16 exams before they cooked up a plan to get the Saudi man his licence.
Before he was arrested, Lenaghan sat five exams in Tauranga.
He was caught leaving one of the exams after police and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were tipped off by an anonymous letter.
Mr Al-Anazy's father is a billionaire who owns a polytechnic and planes in the United Arab Emirates.
The Arab fled New Zealand before Lenaghan's arrest and the pair no longer have any contact, Mr Tuck said.
Left facing criminal charges -- and banned from airports and not allowed to continue flying lessons -- Lenaghan decided to change his plea.
CAA spokesman Bill Sommer confirmed an investigation had cleared Lenaghan of any terrorism links.
Mr Sommer said it appeared Lenaghan had sat the exams for Al-Anazy for money and the promise of a job on aircraft owned by the Arab's father, rather than anything more sinister.
South Auckland detective John Love said outside the court he was surprised that Lenaghan would have tried to pass himself off as an Arab, as he looked nothing like a Saudi -- more like the son in the British television comedy Steptoe and Son.
He said "hapless" Lenaghan was more than likely conned by the Arab, who had since severed all ties with his former friend.
Al-Anazy flew to Saudi Arabia during the time Lenaghan was sitting exams for him and has never returned.
The detective in charge of Lenaghan's investigation, Acting Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone, said the case was still open because Al-Anazy was at large.
Mr Grimstone said security alerts would be triggered at New Zealand airports if he entered the country again.
Lenaghan now studies business at an Auckland polytechnic, his lawyer said.
Lenaghan will be sentenced at the end of April. He faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
08.04.2004
11.45am
An anti-terrorism investigation by the American CIA and New Zealand Security Intelligence Service has prompted a student pilot who impersonated a Saudi national at Tauranga Airport to make a shock guilty plea.
In a surprise turnaround, Kevin Anthony Lenaghan, 27, admitted sitting pilot exams for an Arab friend who struggled with English and had already failed more than a dozen tests to get his licence.
The Aucklander initially denied a charge of impersonating the son of a Saudi billionaire -- but made an unscheduled appearance in Tauranga District Court last week and pleaded guilty. He had been due to appear at a later date.
Lenaghan's arrest at Tauranga Airport sparked a national security alert in July and a widespread investigation involving the SIS the CIA and FBI -- along with the New Zealand police and aviation security agencies.
The inquiries, which partly prompted Lenaghan to change his plea, found he had no terrorist links but was merely a "hapless" petty criminal.
Lenaghan's defence counsel, Craig Tuck, told the court that his client changed his plea because he got a "reality check".
Looking back with "20/20 hindsight", Lenaghan realised the stupidity of his actions, Mr Tuck said.
With the raft of high-powered security agencies investigating him, Lenaghan realised how seriously his actions were viewed and that things had got out of hand.
Through his counsel, Lenaghan told the court that he sat the exams because he felt sorry for a "sick Arab" -- fellow aviation student Naif Hussein Al-Anazy.
They were both studying for private and commercial pilot licences at Ardmore Flying School, South Auckland.
Mr Al-Anazy failed 16 exams before they cooked up a plan to get the Saudi man his licence.
Before he was arrested, Lenaghan sat five exams in Tauranga.
He was caught leaving one of the exams after police and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) were tipped off by an anonymous letter.
Mr Al-Anazy's father is a billionaire who owns a polytechnic and planes in the United Arab Emirates.
The Arab fled New Zealand before Lenaghan's arrest and the pair no longer have any contact, Mr Tuck said.
Left facing criminal charges -- and banned from airports and not allowed to continue flying lessons -- Lenaghan decided to change his plea.
CAA spokesman Bill Sommer confirmed an investigation had cleared Lenaghan of any terrorism links.
Mr Sommer said it appeared Lenaghan had sat the exams for Al-Anazy for money and the promise of a job on aircraft owned by the Arab's father, rather than anything more sinister.
South Auckland detective John Love said outside the court he was surprised that Lenaghan would have tried to pass himself off as an Arab, as he looked nothing like a Saudi -- more like the son in the British television comedy Steptoe and Son.
He said "hapless" Lenaghan was more than likely conned by the Arab, who had since severed all ties with his former friend.
Al-Anazy flew to Saudi Arabia during the time Lenaghan was sitting exams for him and has never returned.
The detective in charge of Lenaghan's investigation, Acting Senior Sergeant Neil Grimstone, said the case was still open because Al-Anazy was at large.
Mr Grimstone said security alerts would be triggered at New Zealand airports if he entered the country again.
Lenaghan now studies business at an Auckland polytechnic, his lawyer said.
Lenaghan will be sentenced at the end of April. He faces a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES