6 sailors charged with detainee abuse in Iraq

[unhappycamper]

Detainees sealed in pepper-sprayed cell
5 sailors get NJP for failing to report it.


6 sailors charged with detainee abuse in Iraq
By Chris Amos - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Aug 15, 2008 6:14:38 EDT

The Navy will court-martial five sailors charged with assaulting 10 detainees May 14 at Camp Bucca, Iraq, a Navy spokeswoman said. A sixth sailor could be court-martialed after an evidentiary hearing.

Seven other Navy personnel have already gone to mast for failing to report the alleged assaults, said Cmdr. Jane Campbell, spokeswoman for Naval Forces Central Command. Five were punished.

Two detainees suffered abrasions as a result of the alleged assaults, and eight others were locked overnight in a detainee housing unit that was doused with pepper spray while its ventilation system was secured.

Twelve of the sailors implicated were part of Navy Provisional Detainee Battalion 4; the last sailor belonged to NPDB 1.

Campbell said the sailors were a mix of active duty and reserve, and said most had limited law-enforcement experience.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/08/navy_bucca_081408/