Army press release detailing the non-judicial punishmment for three soldiers found guilty of abusing four Iraqi detainees.
s-
COALITION FORCES LAND COMPONENT COMMAND RESPONSE TO QUERY
DSN 367-3863/COM 404-464-4693 or 3863
Bk,gc-
ec/p."
December 30, 2003
Master Sgt. Staff Sgt.01111111111111111111/11, and Spc.0110Saratar,
,
assigned to the 320 th Military Police Battalion, received Non Judicial Punishment for abuse of Iraqi detainees.
At a hearing before Brigadier General Ennis Whitehead, HI, Acting Commander of the 143d Transportation Command, Master Sgt.11111.1 was found guilty of violating Article 92 (dereliction of duty for failing to safeguard an Iraqi detainee within her control), and Article 93 (maltreatment of an Iraqi detainee by knocking him to the ground, repeatedly kicking him in the groin, abdomen, and head and encouraging her subordinate soldiers to do the same). BG Whitehead imposed punishment including forfeiture of $1,671.00 per month for 2 months, 30 days of extra duty, and 30 days of restriction to the limits of Camp Arifjan. The soldier elected not to appeal the Article 15.
BG Whitehead also found Staff Sgt.4111111•1111111 guilty of violating Article 92 (dereliction of duty for failing to safeguard from assault and abuse Iraqi detainees within his control), and Article 93 (maltreatment of an Iraqi detainee by dragging him by his armpits across the ground), Article 93 (maltreatment of an Iraqi detainee by holding his legs apart and encouraging others to kick him in the groin while other U.S. soldiers kicked him in the abdomen and head), Article 93 (maltreatment of an Iraqi detainee by throwing him to the ground on his face and stepping on his previously injured arm) and Article 107 (making a false sworn statement to a Special Agent of the US Army Criminal Investigation Division) BG Whitehead imposed punishment including forfeiture of $1,141.00 per month for 2 months, 30 days of extra duty, and 30 days of restriction to the limits of Camp Arifjan, and reduction to the grade of Sergeant (E-5). The soldier elected not to appeal the Article 15.
BG Whitehead found Spc.ammi guilty of violating Article 92 (dereliction of duty for failing to safeguard from assault and abuse Iraqi detainees within his control), and Article 93 (maltreatment of an Iraqi detainee by holding his legs apart while others kicked him in the groin), Article 93 (maltreatment of an Iraqi detainee by violently twisting his previously injured arm and causing him to scream in pain), and Article 107
9623
DOD 007582
(making a false sworn statement to a Special Agent of the US Army Criminal Investigation Division). BG Whitehead imposed punishment including forfeiture of $575.00 per month for 2 months, 30 days of extra duty, and 30 days of restriction to the limits of Camp Arifjan, and reduction to the grade of Private (E-1). The soldier elected not to appeal the Article 15.
In separate administrative actions all three soldiers will be separated from service as per AR 635-200 by their command. After consulting with their military counsel, Master Sgt. elIllgand Staff Sgt.4111 ¦111 waived their rights to an administrative discharge board (Spc. ellpwas not entitled to a board.) After considering matters presented by each soldier, separately, and information the soldiers presented verbally in person, the command directed that Master Sgt.4101111be separated from the military for commission of a serious offense, given an Other Than Honorable Conditions Discharge, be reduced to the lowest enlisted grade of Private (E-1), and be immediately redeployed from this theater of operations. Staff Sgt.111111111.111, and Spc.ftraiwill receive a separation form the military for commission of a serious offense, given a General, Under Honorable Conditions Discharge, and be immediately redeployed from the theater of operations.
The punishments stem from a May 12 incident at Camp Bucca, Iraq where four
U.S. soldiers abused Iraqi detainees after transporting them to a confinement facility. A fourth soldier, Sgt. 41.1111111111111111111. requested a discharge, in lieu of a court martial, under Chapter 10 of Army Regulation 635-200. The discharge was granted under Other Than Honorable conditions.
C 09624
DOD 007583