Two convicted terrorists got more than £400,000 of taxpayers’ cash in legal aid while trying to dodge justice
Anas Abdalla received £264,000 and Zakaria Boufassil claimed £140,000 in legal aid
TWO convicted terrorists received more than £400,000 of taxpayers' cash while fighting their charges.
Anas Abdalla received £264,000 in legal aid to fight his charge of preparing terrorist acts by training to Join IS in Syria, a Sun on Sunday Freedom of Information request has found.
Our probe also discovered Zakaria Boufassil, who gave £3,000 to the Brussels terror bombing suspect, claimed £140,000 in legal aid.
Last night politicians hit out and called for a change in the system.
Tory MP Philip Davies said: “It is an astronomical waste of taxpayers’ money to be perfectly honest. It is a real kick in the teeth for law abiding taxpayers.”
Somali-born Anas Abdalla had been granted asylum in the UK and played for Aston Villa's youth teams before becoming a fanatic.
The IT worker of Acocks Green, Birmingham, was convicted at the Old Bailey of preparing terrorist acts after three trials and caged in November 2016 for five years.
Shockingly there is a further bill for him yet to be paid so the total is thought to be as much as £500,000.
Over his three trials, his solicitors claimed £130,463, his barristers claimed £129,874 and £4,514 was paid in disbursement.
Boufassil, who gave cash to Brussels suspect Mohamed Abrini, was sentenced for three years for acts aiding terrorism after he gave Abrini the cash in a Gucci bag at a park in Birmingham in 2015.
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During his trial at Kingston Crown Court, Boufassil claimed he was a “pothead” and he did not remember.
He claimed £90,317 in solicitors fees, £46,046 in barrister costs and £4,100 in disbursement.
Abrini was charged after the Brussels airport and metro terror attack which killed 32 people in March 2016.
He was also charged in January 2017 over the Paris attacks in November 2015 which left 130 dead.
Philip Davies added: “We are supposed to be tough on terrorism and those committing or preparing acts of terror and all we seem to do is pander to these people."
Labour MP Khalid Mahmood added: “This is just not acceptable. I have constituents who are ordinary people that are not able to defend themselves.
“And these two were here to cause mayhem and yet they had access to unlimited legal aid. It is unacceptable.”
Tory MP Alec Shelbrooke called on a change in how legal aid is delivered.
He said: “At a time when we have seen solicitors using legal aid to shamelessly hound our brave troops, it once again shows our legal system and how legal aid is used needs to be reformed.
“People who are charged with offences relating to terror offences simply should not be able to keep attacking the British state by taking hard-working peoples taxes.”
A spokeswoman for The Ministry of Justice said: "Anyone facing a Crown Court trial is eligible for legal aid, subject to a strict means test.
"Applicants who meet the relevant means thresholds may still be required to pay a significant contribution towards the costs of their defence.
"Depending on their means, applicants for criminal legal aid can be required to pay contributions up to the entire cost of the defence.";