Judge Raises Concerns About Bail Bond For Lodi Terror Suspect

Sactamento, CA — A federal judge says he questions if the property used to post bail for a Lodi terror suspect is adequate.

US District Judge Garland E- Burrell Junior held a hearing Friday with family members of the suspect, Umer Hayat. Relatives offered their houses to secure the $1.2 million needed to get Hayat out of jail.

But Burrell says one of the relatives, Hayat´s 80-year-old uncle, Sher Afzal, may not be legally competent enough to put up his property. Afzal has suffered a stroke and has significant memory problems.

Hayat is charged with lying to the FBI by denying that his son, Hamid Hayat, attended an al-Qaida training camp in Pakistan. The younger Hayat faces more serious charges of supporting terrorism and two counts of lying to investigators.

Burrell expects to issue a ruling on the bail issue next week.