Dad who was arrested on London-bound plane that RAF intercepted has previous terror convictions
Khalid Baqa, 52, faces a fraud charge after the jet was made to land at Stansted Airport instead of Heathrow
THIS is the first picture of the former council worker arrested after RAF Typhoons intercepted a London-bound passenger plane.
Dad-of-six Khalid Baqa, 52, faces a fraud charge after the jet was made to land at Stansted Airport instead of Heathrow because of an unruly passenger on February 7.
The ex-Hackney council worker was jailed for two years in 2013 after he was caught watching terrorist propaganda at his desk in the benefits office.
He also used his work computer to trawl Islamic websites and hid discs containing 26 hours of speeches by the hate preacher Anwar al-Awlakiin in his car and his children's bedroom.
The plane had flying from Baqa's home town of Lahore in Pakistan.
He was charged with one count of fraud by false representation, namely that he failed to disclose to an insurance company a previous conviction intending to make a gain.
Tom Gill, prosecuting, told Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court: “The defendant applied unlawfully for vehicle insurance and didn't disclose previous details of previous driving convictions.
“He received lower payment of insurance as a result.”
Baqa denied the charge and chose to have his trial at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on April 6.
Alison Marks, defending, said: “The issue here is that there is a lack of dishonesty from Mr Baqa.
“The answers that he gave in his policy application, he genuinely believed those answers to be true.”
Baqa had admitted two counts of disseminating terrorist publications at the Old Bailey in April 2013.
He pleaded guilty on the basis that he was holding the discs for an unknown person and had not intended to distribute them himself.
Baqa, of Barking, East London today denied fraud by false representation and was granted unconditional bail until his trial at Highbury Corner Magistrates Court on April 6.
His previous convictions date back to the 1980s and include theft, fraud and handling stolen goods. He also received a short jail term in 1986 for unlawful assembly.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368