News and New Products

Ex-CEO on Murder Plot Charge

By Richard Ball -- Electronics Weekly, 7/28/2004

Amr Mohsen, the former chief executive of EDA firm Aptix, has been charged with plotting the murder of a federal judge in San Francisco.

Mohsen was indicted on 23 charges by the FBI, including intimidation of witnesses and solicitation of arson. His brother, Aly Mohsen "was also charged with conspiracy to obstruct justice and perjury," said the case's attorney from the Northern District of California.

The original federal charges against Mohsen were brought following the failure of his patent lawsuit against Quickturn, now part of Cadence. Mohsen was found to have falsified entries in his engineering notebook in order to show his patent was valid.

The judge in the civil case, Judge William Alsup, was also due to try the criminal case for perjury and obstruction of justice. Mohsen was subsequently arrested for contempt of court and violating the conditions of his release. When arrested he was carrying a new Egyptian passport and a large amount of cash.

While in jail during May and June, Mohsen is alleged to have "solicited the murder of the federal judge, Hon. William H. Alsup." said the U.S. attorney in his indictment. "The affidavit alleges that Mr. Mohsen approached an informant and stated that he desired to make the Federal Judge in his criminal case 'disappear' so he will be 'never found.'"

He also, alleges the attorney, attempted to commission the arson of five trial witnesses' cars.

Both the Mohsen brothers are due in court next week in front of a new judge.

Electronics Weekly is the London-based sister publication of Electronic News.