European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - September 14, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Page 4 the stars and stripes monday september 14,1987 North s Story on arms funds disputed ran an denies suggesting diversion Washington up Iran Centra investigators Reading to a still secret letter Are disputing it. Col. Oliver North s testimony that an iranian Middle Man first proposed diverting arms Sale profits to the contras a congressional source close to the inquiry said sunday. The middleman Manucher Ghorbani far wrote confidential july 31 letter to the congressional Iran Contra committees flatly denying North s charge that he originated the plan sources said. Stuart Pierson Thor Zanifar s Washington based at Torney confirmed in a Telephone interview that Thor ban far flatly denies North s charge that he came up with the diversion scheme. But Pierson would not say if Ghorbani far specifically made that denial in the confidential letter. North testified in july that Ghorbani far the inter mediary in the arms for hoi Lages negotiations called him into a bathroom in London in january 1986 an proposed the diversion. Although congressional investigators View most  s statements with great scepticism some accept his denial on the grounds that it makes sense the source said. It does t make sense the source said that some Sleazy operator in the Middle East arms Market who never even heard of the contras would come up with the diversion  Ghorbani far an iranian expatriate living in Paris who arranges arms deals in the Middle cast failed numerous polygraph exams and was distrusted throughout the Cia Agency officials have said. The question of who concocted the possibly illegal scheme that led to the diversion of an estimated $3.5 million last year is a major focus of special prosecutor Lawrence Walsh s investigation into the Iran Centra affair. This unresolved Issue also has bearing on the con Gressional inquiry. Some investigators Are examining whether the diversion was a driving Force behind the White House s Iran initiative the source said. According to this hypothesis the diversion plan was devised before president Reagan decided to sell arms directly to Iran in january 1986 and it helped motivate the president s decision the source said. During the preceding fall the White House at tempted to secure the release of american hostages by agreeing to an indirect plan in which the israelis sold arms to Iran and the . Government replenished israeli stocks. Pierson said his client presented his views of northing the 11-Page letter to the committees and in inter views last april with panel attorneys that lasted be tween is and 18 hours. Ghorbani far believes North linked him with the diversion idea in an attempt to distance himself from the scheme Pierson said. North is trying to portray himself Pierson said As an unwitting victim of a conspiracy hatched by  North who was dismissed from his White House Post on nov. 25, 1986, has been named As a target of Walsh s criminal investigation. North had earlier identified a second person  adviser Amiram Nir As originating the diversion scheme. White House chronologies of the Iran initiative which were written largely by North last november indicated that Nir first proposed the plan. The committees have no persuasive evidence Indi Cating the origin of the scheme the source said. Cia official Clair George has testified that he vigorously objected to the White House s Reliance on Thor ban far because he had failed numerous polygraph exams. Pierson charged that the Cia s polygraph tests were stacked against Ghorbani far in an attempt to create evidence that would discredit him in the event he leaked information about the Iran initiative. He said that despite the polygraph failures Seni Orcia officials tried unsuccessfully to recruit Ghorbani far As an agent during the Early 1980s. Robertson Winner of Straw poll Ames Iowa up television evangelist Pat Robertson sur Eris cd Republican presidential ont runners George Bush and Robert Dole by running Well ahead of both in winning a Straw poll at an Iowa fund raising  supporters packed a coliseum and the Straw poll re sults saturday showed him win Ning 33.6 percent of the Iowa  nationally watched event was billed As a test of the presidential candidates organizational abilities for the upcoming first in the nation Iowa caucuses. Robertson s finish took the gleam out of an expected Battle be tween vice president Bush Andsen. Dole of Kansas who polls show leading Iowa republicans unpopularity by a wide margin. Dole finished second among Iowa republicans with 24.9 per cent while Bush received 22.4 per cent of the 3,843 Straw poll votes at the gathering. Non resident were counted in a separate Straw poll that Robertson also . Jack Kemp r-n.y., who earlier saturday won a Straw Pollat a convention of the state s larg est anti abortion organization got13.5 percent of the support. For Mer Delaware gov. Pierre do Pontoon 4.16 percent. Secord reported looking for work after ending business with Hakim Washington a Richard  has closed his office effectively ended his business with Iran Centra Mone Yman Albert Hakim and is looking for work according to sources familiar with his situation. Secord 55, a retired air Force major general who played a principal part in the Iran Contra Case is one of the targets of Independent counsel Lawrence Walsh s in  he has Given a few speeches Secord is not a hot property on the lec Ture circuit said one source speaking on condition he remain  source later added he does t have a lot of  did t get paid for the Long inter View in the october edition of Playboy Magazine according to journalist Morgan Strong who conducted the  and Hakim his former business partner at Stanford technology trading group International handled logistical and operational details of the program to sell .-Maclc weapons to Iran and divert the profits to the nicaraguan  reported to it col. Oliver North the National Security Council aide who was fired by president Reagan last novem Ber. Secord gave Genera instructions to Hakim the financial wizard who con trolled the  they became linked to North in 1985, Secord and Hakim served As arms merchants for the contras buying and sell ing weapons at a profits Cord in an interview last month at his office in nearby Mclean va., said he was pursuing new business ventures but did Tsay what they were. A few weeks later he shut Down the Stanford technology office Thomas Green his attorney confirmed. The Tele phone number has been disconnected and Accord has an unlisted Home number. Secord and Hakim no longer needed theoffice because they did t have any reason to keep it according to one Friend also speaking anonymously. Apponi retired a. Gen. Richard Secord Hakim who owns a House in los gatos,Calif., could not be reached for comment and his attorney n. Richard jams was out of town. Hakim is appealing a contempt of court citation for refusing to provide Walsh s grand jury with financial records of Swiss companies that he and Secord con trolled. About $8 million remains Frozen in the Swiss accounts. Ownership of the Money remains in dispute with Secord and Hakim claiming it belongs to them. But Walsh s investigators arc reportedly trying to build Case showing that the Money profits from the Sale  weapons to Iran belongs to the Federal government. Secord testified in the Iran Centra hear Ings and said in interviews that he did not Cam any Money other than a fair salary from the dealings. He also claims the Mark  on weapons sold by his group to the contras were not excessive. Secord acknowledged during the hear Ings that handling figures was not his Strong suit and said he left the Micro management of the Iran Centra deals to Hakim. One time he said he faced a Large Cash shortfall but ignored it. Not being a Pru Dent planner i press ahead he , Accord s defense fund run by Washington lawyer Middleton Martin has collected about $100,000, a figure not nearly enough to cover Legal Bills on source said. Despite his situation Accord told play boy that he was optimistic about the future. I expect to win this one. I May have to leave a few dead bodies behind me figuratively speaking of course but i expect to win this  3 children killed 1 injured by hit and run Driver san Jose Calif. Up a hit and run Driver slammed his car into four children playing on the front Lawn of an East san Jose House backed Over the bodies and sped away police  of the children died. A witness Eddie pc Larsen 19, said the Driver was knocking Over kids like they were  Jose Santo Bugarin 26, was arrested shortly after the saturday evening trag Edy when he struck another vehicle a few blocks away. Police said they found Sev eral Beer bottles in the car and arrested Bugarin and a passenger Rodolfo ,31. Bugarin ally Pudy had $20,000 in War rants for driving with a suspended License and was arrested on three counts of second degree murder. He and Alvaro who also was arrested on murder charges were hospitalized for minor in juries. Neither Man was immediately charged with Drunken driving pending tests. The children killed were identified sunday by the Santa Clara county Coro Ner s office As by Misc Marquez 6cesar Lopez 5 and Cesar s older brother Jesus 11. Another 11 year old boy thought to be Bemick s brother remained hospitalized with a broken Legand broken Collarbone. Police it. Ken Hawkes said we be Lieve the Driver was under the influence of some chemical substance. I m getting Damn sick and tired myself of drunk Drivers butchering  Frank acc Vado who lives two houses away from where inc kids were run Over said Alberto Marquez father of at Lea Stone of the victims was working in his garage and witnessed the  said the father tried to pull Bugarin from the car but the suspect put the car into reverse backed Over the Chil Dren and sped off Down the Street the father was crying my babies my boys my babies " Azvedo said