Terror trial's key witness admits threats
Peter Small
Isabel Teotonio
Staff Reporters
A police agent who is the Crown's star witness in a homegrown terror trial has pleaded guilty to threatening to chop off the legs of two 12-year-old girls.
Mubin Shaikh, 32, was given a one-year conditional discharge yesterday after admitting to one count of threatening to cause bodily harm in a case unrelated to the trial taking place in Brampton.
Shaikh was paid $300,000 to infiltrate the "Toronto 18" terror group. Final arguments in the case of a youth who allegedly belonged to the group begin next week.
According to an agreed statement of facts, Shaikh got into an argument with the girls on April 3, 2007, as they walked to Kane Senior Middle School, near his home in the Keele St. and Eglinton Ave. W. area.
During the dispute, Shaikh, a former army cadet with martial arts training, said: "Do you know who I am? I'm going to chop off your legs."
Shaikh told reporters the dispute was sparked when youths surrounded and threatened his children, ages 1 and 3.
"I had to protect my kids. It's as simple as that," he said.
But according to a police synopsis, the dispute started after he made comments from his van to the girls concerning their supposed truancy. Police alleged that he left his vehicle and approached them.
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