A judge has revoked the bail of a Pakistani man being held at the Cumberland County Jail on an immigration violation while police investigate the attempted car bombing in Times Square on May 1.

Pakistan’s counsel general in Boston, Barry Hoffman, said he learned Wednesday from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that a judge had revoked the $10,000 bail he had originally set for Mohammad Shafiq Rahman of South Portland. The judge revoked the bail at the urging of immigration officials, said Hoffman, pending an investigation into possible criminal charges.

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A judge has revoked the $10,000 bail set for Mohammad Shafiq Rahman of South Portland at the urging of U.S. immigration officials, it was learned Wednesday.

Hoffman said he understood that Rahman has requested a new bail hearing, but a date hasn’t been set. Hoffman did not have further details.

“I’m mystified as to what’s happening. We look at this as a simple immigration case,” said Hoffman. “It’s all confusing; it shows you what’s wrong with our justice system. Our biggest problem is the government is wasting so many resources on people like Rahman, when they should be going after real potential terrorists.”

An immigration spokesman declined to comment, as did Rahman’s wife, Sara Rahman. His attorney, Cynthia Arn, did not return calls for comment.

Mohammad Rahman was one of three Pakistani men charged with immigration violations during the investigation of the attempted Times Square car bombing.

In the past, Arn has said that Rahman has “no connection” to Faisal Shahzad, who pleaded guilty to 10 terrorism and weapons charges in the Times Square case.

Rahman, a computer programmer, came to the United States legally in 1999, has no criminal record and got married in March. He is accused of overstaying his visa.

Rahman knew Shahzad when he lived in Connecticut a decade ago because they were both part of the Pakistani community, but they haven’t spoken in years, Arn has said.

Authorities have said that Rahman and two men arrested in Massachusetts may have given money to Shahzad through an informal money transfer network, but may not have known how the money would be used. No criminal charges were brought against the three men.

Hoffman said Rahman is being held under maximum security, and is restricted to his cell 23 hours a day. Hoffman said he was told that’s for Rahman’s protection, adding “that’s baloney.”

“They’re trying to harass him,” Hoffman said. “It’s going to lead to a nervous breakdown.”

Staff Writer Matt Wickenheiser can be contacted at 791-6316 or at: mwickenheiser@pressherald.com

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