video that sparked protests across Muslim countries detained without
bond Thursday, saying
there was a risk he would try to flee.
Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, the alleged director/producer of "Innocence
of Muslims," appeared in court after being arrested for breaching the
terms of his probation for a 2010
banking fraud conviction.
Prosecutor Robert Dugdale said the 55-year-old had allegedly made
eight breaches, including making false statements to probation
officers and using at least three different names. Judge Suzanne Segal
ruled that Nakoula, who has been
hiding since protests erupted over his film, be detained without bond,
saying he was a flight risk and a danger to the community. "The court
has a lack of trust in this defendant," she said.
Concerns have been raised for Nakoula's safety due to the widespread
anger his alleged video has provoked among Muslims, and his
hastily-arranged court appearance was held under tight security in
downtown LA.
The hearing was closed to the public, but journalists and anyone else
interested was allowed to follow proceedings via videoconference from
a separate building.
Nakoula — allegedly the real identity behind the pseudonym Sam Bacile,
listed as the director of "Innocence of Muslims" — was briefly taken
into custody earlier this month for questioning by his probation
officer.
He was traced to a home address in Cerritos, south of Los Angeles,
after international protests erupted against the 14- minute trailer
video posted online. The film depicting the Prophet Mohammed as a
thuggish deviant offended many Muslims, and sparked a wave of
anti-American protests that have cost several lives and saw mobs set
US missions, schools and businesses ablaze.