Terror suspect accuses judge

Mar Roman, Madrid

Abdulla Khayata Katan, a 29-year-old Spaniard of Syrian origin, cried as he took the stand to defend himself against charges of belonging to the cell, although he is not accused playing a role in the September 11 attacks.

He said he was insulted and stepped on by guards at a Jordanian jail before being turned over to Spanish authorities in February 2004.

“I am completely innocent,” he said. “I have nothing to do with what they accuse me of.”

Katan said Judge Baltasar Garzon pressured him into making incriminating statements about the alleged cell leader, Imad Yarkas, and other defendants during a three-day interrogation in February 2004.

Hours of that taped testimony were played in court today. In it, Katan did not complain or sound like he was speaking under duress.

But as the tape played, Katan interjected often. He accused Judge Garzon of putting words in his mouth to suggest Yarkas recruited men for terrorist training Bosnia and Afghanistan.

Katan said the judge had interrogated him without a translator and at times turned off the tape recorder to tell him what to say.

After one session, Katan said, Judge Garzon gave him a document to sign and Katan said he did not understand what it was. “Don’t worry, just sign it,” Katan quoted the investigative magistrate as saying.

When Judge Javier Gomez Bermudez asked why Katan had waited until now to recant the statements, the defendant said he had written Judge Garzon five letters asking to testify again, but he had refused.

Katan is one of 24 suspected al-Qaida members on trial in Madrid since April 22.