Newark, New Jersey: A United States federal judge has postponed the bail hearing of India born British national Hemant Lakhani, facing terrorism charges in an alleged missile smuggling plot, till September 11 to enable prosecutors to present evidence in support of its contention that the arms dealer's bail plea should be rejected.

US attorney Christopher Christie argued that Lakhani should not be granted bail, as he is flight risk and also danger to the community.

Christie said that Lakhani can be heard on more than 150 covertly recorded conversations and also in some videotapes and told the court that a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent would be called to give evidence.

Lakhani's lawyer Alan Zegas said the prosecution should present evidence, arguing that criminal complaints were not enough to keep his client in jail without bail.

After hearing the arguments, Judge Ronald Hedges accepted the defence plea and postponed hearing till September 11.

The prosecutors charge that Lakhani planned to sell some 50 Russian made missiles to undercover agents posing as Islamic terrorists, who wanted to shoot down a commercial airliner in the United States.

If convicted, he could get 15 years in jail and fined $ 250,000.

Two others, an Indian citizen Moinuddeen Ahmed Hameed and US citizen Yehuda Abraham, are also charged in the case with acting as financial middlemen and money laundering.

Abraham, 76, has been released on a $ 10 million bail but Hameed, 38, continues to be in jail. Each could get up to five years in prison and fined $ 250,000 if convicted.

PTI