Central Figure in Federal Terror Probe Will Be Released for Disney World Trip

A federal judge yesterday approved a trip to Disney World for a major figure in a government terrorism investigation, brushing aside claims by prosecutors that he might take the opportunity to flee.

"I'm confident that he will come back," U.S. District Judge Amy St. Eve said in giving Bridgeview resident Mohammed Salah permission to make the trip to the Florida vacation spot.

"I get to take it off," a smiling Salah told reporters after court, pointing to a bulge under his left sock where the government has placed an electronic monitoring bracelet to make sure he stays under house arrest.

Salah, 53, and a former business professor, Abdelhaleem Ashqar, 48, were acquitted February 1 of racketeering conspiracy involving laundering and delivering money to Hamas members trying to topple Israel's government.

But Ashqar was convicted of refusing to testify before a federal grand jury after he had been granted immunity from prosecution, and Salah was convicted of lying under oath in a civil lawsuit.

The racketeering count was the most significant one in the indictment, but the men are still awaiting sentencing on the lesser charges.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph Ferguson opposed allowing Salah to take off the monitoring bracelet or make the trip.

"His word has been found worthless by a jury," Mr. Ferguson said.

Salah is to be sentenced June 15.