Wednesday, November 9 2005 15:31 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Honolulu: A grand jury has returned a six-count indictment against an Indian-born naturalized US citizen, B-2 stealth bomber engineer, already accused of selling US military secrets to foreign countries.

Three of the counts allege Noshir S. Gowadia, 61,of Haiku on Maui, broke law by communicating US defence information to people in three unidentified countries.

The remaining three counts returned yesterday (Nov 8, 2005) accuse him of violating the Arms Export Control Act. He was arrested in October.

Gowadia was an engineer with Northrop Grumman Corp. from 1968 to 1986 and helped design parts of the B-2's infrared suppressing propulsion system that makes it difficult for enemy missiles to detect the bomber. The technology remains highly classified.

On Oct. 23, 2002, Gowadia sent a foreign official a facsimile containing details for the development of top secret infrared technology for a foreign military aircraft, US Attorney Edward H. Kubo Jr. said.

The other two cases involved e-mails Gowadia sent Sept. 6, 2004, and Nov. 22, 2004, to foreign business people with proposals to develop infrared suppression technology for foreign commercial aircraft, Kubo said.

Each of the six counts carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison and a $250,000 (euro213, 000) fine.

Following his arrest, Gowadia, was charged with willfully communicating national defense information to a person not entitled to receive it.

The US Government has sought to seize Gowadia's $1.8 million home his four-bedroom home in Haiku was allegedly built with thousands of dollars he made from sales of military information.