29-04-2024 05:46 AM Jerusalem Timing

Offensive Film Producer Held without Bail

Offensive Film Producer Held without Bail

The film maker of the offensive movie to Islam and Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) was ordered held without bail Thursday after being arrested in California.

The film maker of the offensive movie to Islam and Prophet Mohammad (pbuh) was ordered held without bail Thursday after being arrested in California.Nakoula Basseley Nakoula

Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, 55, the filmmaker of the provocative “Innocence of Muslims”, was accused he violated his probation linked to a prior conviction for bank fraud.

"He engaged in a likely pattern of deception both to his probation officers and the court," Judge Suzanne Segal said in issuing her ruling.

The preliminary bail hearing began with Segal asking the defendant -- dressed in gray slacks and a white and yellow striped T-shirt, with handcuffs and chain around his waist -- what his true name was.
"Mark Basseley Yousseff," he replied.

The judge then asked again, what is your name?
"Mark Basseley," he said this time, again without spelling the name out.

The lawyer for Nakoula, who has used at least 17 false names, according to court documents, but is mostly referred to as Nakoula, then argued for $10,000 bail.
As a condition of his release, he was barred from accessing the Internet or using aliases without the permission of a probation officer, court records show.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Robert Dugdale then addressed the judge, claiming the man -- who he referred to as Nakoula or Bassil -- had engaged in a pattern of deception and a person who cannot be trusted.
Dugdale pointed to a probation report citing eight allegations in which Nakoula had violated his probation.

One of those was a requirement not to use aliases without permission from his probation officer, something the prosecutor said Nakoula did on at least three instances: during his fraud case, when he tried to get a passport in 2011, and during the making of the film. Dugdale said Nakoula had deceived the cast of the film, as well as his probation officers.

"He poses a flight risk and poses a danger to others," Dugdale said, alluding to the probation report's recommendation that Nakoula be sentenced to 24 months in prison.