North could face jail

Press, 18 March 1988, Page 8

North could face jail

NZPA-Reuter Washington ; Oliver North, the alleged mastermind behind the Iran-Contra scandal jvho basked in popularity last year when he gave Congressional testimony, could face an 85-year jail term and a SUS 4 million {(55.96 million) fine. ; North and his former boss, President Reagan’s former national security {adviser, John. Poindexter, (were charged yesterday 'with conspiracy, fraud, theft, embezzlement, obstruction of justice and {other crimes by a federal {grand jury. i North faces the heaviest potential punishment I if convicted on all charges in the 23-count indictment in connection with Mr Reagan’s worst foreign policy scandal, the secret sale of arms to Iran and the diversion of profits to Nicaraguan rebels. | Poindexter, a retired \ rear-admiral, faces a maximum prison term of 40 years and a SUSI.7S million (5NZ2.22 million) fine.

Also named in the indictment were two arms dealers, a retired Air Force major general, Richard Secord, and his business partner, Albert Hakim, both of whom worked at North’s direction. .

Just before the indictment was announced, Mr Reagan insisted again that no law’s had been broken j by the scandal.) Last year, when he testified ’ before! Congressional committees, Oliver North became a celebrity whose boyish face beamed from r television screens and magazine covers and whose name graced lapel buttons; Tshirts and bumper stickers. A new world — [“Olliemania” — was coined for the phenomenon.'

The United States secretly sold arms to Iran in 1985 and 1986 in what Mr Reagan later acknowledged was an arms-for-hostages swap for Americans held in Lebanon. Funds from the arms sales were' secretly diverted to the Contras at a time when United States aid was barred by (Congress. i i Neither Mr Reagan nor his White House aides had any comment after the announcement of I the charges that! alleged ' a White House criminal conspiracy. I The indictment raised anew the question of whether Mr Reagan will pardon his former aides after the November Presidential election.