11.22.2006

Note That This Man Is An American Citizen

From the wires:

An Ethiopian-born man arrested while carrying nearly $79,000 (€61,500) in cash and a computer with information about nuclear materials and cyanide is a flight risk and will not be released on bail, a judge ruled Monday.

District Judge Paul Borman overturned a magistrate's decision ruling Sisayehiticha Dinssa, an unemployed U.S. citizen, could be released on a $20,000 (€15,600) bond. Dinssa was arrested Nov. 14 after a dog caught the scent of narcotics on cash he was carrying, according to an affidavit filed in U.S. District Court.

At a detention hearing Monday, Magistrate Judge Steven Whalen had ruled Dinssa could be released. He also ordered Whalen to surrender his passport, abide by a curfew and undergo mental health counseling while living with his brother, Adudna Dinssa, in Scottsdale, Arizona.