The former president of NANA Management Services, a subsidiary of the Alaska Native regional corporation NANA Development Corp., is a key witness in a high-profile trial playing out in New York against a radical Islamic cleric facing 11 terrorism charges, according to a report from the New Zealand Herald.
Mary Quin, 60, was kidnapped during a trip with a group of people in Yemen in 1998 by "armed and masked militants." Shortly after the group was taken hostage, a fight between their captors and Yemeni government troops broke out. Four of the 16 hostages were killed, but Quin escaped.
The former Alaskan later worked for NANA Management Services from 2005-2013. In 2006, her book "Kidnapped in Yemen" was released, detailing her experiences during the 1998 hostage situation. After extensive research, which included talking with the FBI, diplomats and a former prime minister of the Arabian state, she determined that the man behind the attack was Mustafa Kamel Mustafa, better known as Abu Hamza al-Masri, according to the New Zealand Herald.
The Herald describes the Egyptian-born Hamza -- who lost both his hands and an eye when fighting against the Soviet occupation in Afghanistan -- as a "hook-handed, one-eyed imam." Hamza was the leader of a London mosque, and gained attention for his fiery speeches, according to CNN. Richard Reid -- also known as the "shoe bomber" -- who attempted to detonate an explosive on a Paris-Miami flight just a few months after the Sept. 11 attacks, was a reported follower of Hamza.
Quin became a star witness in the case after recording an hour-long conversation with Hamza at his mosque in London. Quin had reportedly flown to London to confront him about his role in the hostage situation.
Hamza allegedly knew the conversation with Quin was being recorded, and admitted to providing the leader of the kidnapping, Abu Hassan, with a satellite phone, as well as being in contact with him during the attack and familiarity with the overall plan, which was to exchange the hostages for other terror suspects already in custody.
He also allegedly told Quin that none of the hostages were supposed to die. Hamza spent time in a British jail for inciting murder and racial hatred before being extradited to New York City in 2012.
Quin declined to comment on the topic. She left NANA Management Services last year and now works in New Zealand as the Chief Executive Officer of Callaghan Innovation.
The trial is currently in its second week and is expected to last a month.