NEWS

WIRES

OTHER

Insurgents Found Guilty of Illegal Border Crossing, Possession of Illegal Weapon

BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Central Criminal Court of Iraq held four trials last week convicting four security detainees for various crimes including possession of illegal weapons and illegal border crossing.

In the first case, Coalition Security Forces apprehended Khalid Ahmad Wayiss after conducting a combined raid with the Iraqi Army on his home, based on information received from an informant indicating the detainee was participating in Anti-Iraqi Forces / Anti-Coalition Forces activities Sept. 16, 2005.

The Iraqi Army searched his home and discovered one AK-47 and one sniper rifle with a scope. The Iraqi Army took Khalid Ahmad Wayiss into custody for possession of an illegal weapon and immediately turned him over to Coalition Forces.

On Feb. 1, the Court found Khalid Ahmad Wayiss guilty of possession of illegal weapons and sentenced him to two (2) years imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 Iraqi Dinars.

In the second case, Iraqi border guards captured Hassan Omar Ramadan Khalaf trying to cross the border from Iraq into Syria between border stations Oct. 8, 2005. The detainee is Syrian and had no paperwork allowing him to be in Iraq. Hassan Omar Ramadan Khalaf admits he entered into Iraq illegally. On Feb. 1, the Court found Hassan Omar Ramadan Khalaf guilty of violating Article 10/1/A, illegal border crossing, and sentenced him to three years imprisonment.

In the third case, Coalition Security Forces apprehended Talib Ibrahim Hamed after searching his home and finding illegal weapons Sept. 9, 2005. Coalition Security Forces found a rocket, two RPG boosters, two hand grenades, and several AK-47 rounds located three meters from the home. On Feb. 1, the Court found Talib Ibrahim Hamed guilty of illegal possession of special weapons and sentenced him to seven years imprisonment.

In the fourth case, Coalition Security Forces apprehended Salman Hazim Obaid for possessing illegal weapons April 3, 2005. Coalition Forces found three AK-47 rifles with numerous ammunition magazines, three long rifles, one RPK machinegun, one 9mm sub-machinegun with five ammunition magazines, two drums full of ammunition, 12 boxes of armor piercing ammunition, IED materials and 75 feet of wire inside his home.

On Feb 1, the Court found Salman Hazim Obaid guilty of illegal possession of special weapons and sentenced him to one year imprisonment (with credit for time served).

Upon conviction, all defendants are turned over to the Iraqi Corrections Service to serve their sentences.

To date, the CCCI has held 860 trials of insurgents suspected of anti-Iraqi and anti-Coalition activities threatening the security of Iraq and targeting Multi-National Force-Iraq. These proceedings have resulted in 761 individual convictions with sentences ranging up to 30 years imprisonment.

Source: Multi-National Force-Iraq