26/11 case: 'Terrorists used outboat machine imported by Pak'

The 26/11 terrorists had used an outboat machine, exported from Yamaha Motor Company in Japan to Pakistan, in their dingy to reach Mumbai.

The fact was revealed on Thursday by the Company's representative, who deposed before the special court, hearing the Mumbai terror attack case, via video conferencing from the FBI office in Los Angeles.

This is for the first time that a witness from abroad is deposing via video conference link in a terror-related case in India.

The witness said the Yamaha machine was used in the boat by which the ten terrorists, including lone surviving gunman Mohammad Ajmal Kasab, arrived at the Mumbai coast.

"The engine had been dispatched by the Yamaha Company in Japan to Business and Engineering Trends Company in Pakistan on January 20 last year," the witness told special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam.

The machine was dispatched to the Karachi sea port in Pakistan and the payment was made in Japan itself, he added.

Nikam also produced a letter on the company's letterhead, written and signed by Michelle, the Assistant Services Manager of Yamaha, stating that the machine was sent to Pakistan.

The letter was procured by the FBI during investigations. Although the witness identified Michelle's signature, Kasab's lawyer Abbas Kazmi objected saying it does not bear the sign of the witness.

Accepting the document, special judge M L Tahilyani said its evidential value can be argued later.

The witness also denied Kazmi's contention that he was deposing wrongly at the instance of FBI.

During the proceedings, Kasab was seen smiling and keenly listening to the deposition.

Three screens have been installed inside the courtroom by MTNL for the video conference link.

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