Audio By Carbonatix
A Ghanaian who was arrested in April after telling his date that he was a terrorist and would blow up her University of Massachusetts dormitory pleaded guilty on Monday to a single charge of threatening to commit a crime.
Abdul F. Ismail entered the plea in Eastern Hampshire Court, admitting to his role in the April 11 incident. He avoided any jail time as Judge Thomas Estes placed his conviction "on file" for the next 12 months, meaning no sentence will be imposed if he stays out of trouble over that time.
However, Ismail was taken into custody by United State Immigration and Customs Enforcement shortly after the end of the court proceedings, according to Mary Carey, communications director for Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan.
Ismail, 27, has been in the United States since 2013. He came here from Ghana to seek asylum. His lawyer told the court that prior to his arrest, Ismail was due to have an immigration hearing about being granted permanent resident status next March
He was arrested after a woman that he had been briefly been dating reported him to police after their second date. The two had met through the online dating application Tender.
The woman, a UMass student, told police that he came to her dorm room in Butterfield Hall, and asked her to print out a document on the recent bombings in Syria.
When the woman said she was uncomfortable doing so, he reportedly said "I'm a terrorist" and that he planned to blow up the dorm.
His lawyer, Alan Rubin, told the court that Ismail was only joking, and that there was no evidence that he intended to carry out the crime.
UMass police testified that the comment troubled the woman enough to where she ended their date, escorted him from the building, and then called police.
She was also so shaken the university had to find new accommodations for her because she refused to stay in her dorm room.
Latest Stories
-
National Peace Council urges investment in youth to sustain Ghana’s peace
3 minutes -
Afenyo-Markin urges youth to speak up against injustice
13 minutes -
CAF annuls Edo Queens victory, orders WAFU B final to resume from extra time
36 minutes -
Interior Minister urges traditional authorities to enforce anti-bushfire bye-laws
37 minutes -
3rd Republic Bank-JoyNews Habitat Fair Clinic ends on a high note after three days of strong patronage
39 minutes -
Ten climbers missing after avalanche hits Himalayan base camp
1 hour -
NPP had more permanent fuel relief measures than current GH¢2 diesel cut – Amin Adam
2 hours -
Photos from the 3rd Republic Bank-JoyNews Habitat Fair Clinic
2 hours -
Ethiopia’s army promises restraint amid fears of new civil war
2 hours -
Amin Adam calls for review of fuel taxes as diesel prices remain above GH¢18
2 hours -
World Vision Ghana, Ahafo districts sign MoU for universal WASH coverage
3 hours -
When the gold engine stutters: What Ghana’s Cedi and reserves are telling us about the new economic architecture
3 hours -
Two reportedly die after being trapped in mining pit at Juaboso
3 hours -
Petrosol cleans up Wa Municipal Hospital, to donate medical equipment
3 hours -
‘If NPP was ‘insensitive’ over fuel prices, NDC must accept same description now’ — Amin Adam
4 hours