Court appoints lawyer for Mumbai attacker, paying $50 a day

Source: Xinhua | 05-13-2009 15:39

NEW DELHI, May 13 (Xinhua) -- The court-appointed lawyer for Mohammed Abdul Ajmal alias Kasab, the only militant caught alive in the Mumbai terror attacks last November, is charging 2,500 ruppes (50 U.S. dollars) a day for representing his client, a senior Indian Home Ministry official said Wednesday.

"The special court trying Kasab has recommended to the state government of Maharashtra to pay Abbas Khazmi a legal fee of 2,500rupees for each day in the court. The government is to approve the fee in a week's time," the official said, on condition of anonymity.

Khazmi was appointed as Kasab's lawyer after the court sacked his first lawyer Anjali Waghmare for representing an eyewitness in the same case.

India has charged Kasab with 302 crimes, including waging war against the state, and on over 82 counts for his direct involvement in the Mumbai terror attacks on November 26 last year, in which over 170 people, including foreign nationals, were killed and hundreds injured.

Editor:Zhang Yun