Afghan appeal court cuts jail sentence of 3 US vigilantes
An Afghan appeal court yesterday slashed by at least half the sentences of three Americans accused of torturing suspects in a so-called private war on terror, a judge said yesterday. Alleged ringleader Jonathan Idema had the 10-year sentence he was handed at a chaotic trial last September reduced to five years, Abdul Latif, one of the four judges hearing the case, told AFP. Fellow appellant Brent Bennett will serve three years instead of 10, while Edward Caraballo's time behind bars was cut from eight years to two, the judge added. However, the court in the capital Kabul did not overturn the men's convictions, the judge added.
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File photo dated September 15, 2004 shows US citizens (L to R) Edward Carabello, Jonathan Idema and Brent Bennett at a Kabul court on charges of illegally running a private jail and torturing suspects in a "private war on terror". An Afghan tribunal yesterday slashed by at least half the sentences of the three Americans accused of torturing suspects in a so-called private prison. However the tribunal did not overturn the men's convictions. PHOTO: AFP |
