US Army ejects trio for abusing Iraqi detainees

KUWAIT - The United States Army has discharged three soldiers for abusing Iraqi prisoners of war in southern Iraq.

They were found guilty of beating and harassing prisoners at Camp Bucca during the US-led war against Iraq, spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Vic Harris said.

The three soldiers, all from Pennsylvania, have been sent back to the US after months of investigations led to their administrative discharge by Brigadier General Ennis Whitehead III, the acting commander of the 143rd Transportation Command, Harris said.

Whitehead indicted the soldiers under non-judicial punishment. This means a jury does not try the case and the defendants do not have to serve time in jail, Harris said.

"The biggest consequence is that the soldiers have been separated from service and can no longer represent America in uniform."

He named the three as Master Sergeant Lisa Girman, aged 35, Staff Sergeant Scott McKenzie, 38, and Specialist Timothy Canjar, 21.

"The charges stem from an incident last year when prisoners were being moved. Master Sergeant Girman, who was the senior person and in charge, was charged with physical abuse of Iraqi detainees," Harris said.

In Atlanta, US Army spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Gregory Julian said Girman was found guilty of knocking a prisoner to the ground, repeatedly kicking him in the groin, abdomen and head and encouraging her subordinate soldiers to do the same.

He said McKenzie was found guilty of dragging a prisoner by his armpits across the ground, holding his legs apart and encouraging others to kick him in the groin while other US soldiers kicked him in the abdomen and head, and throwing the prisoner to the ground and stepping on his injured arm.

Canjar was found guilty of mistreatment of a prisoner by holding his legs apart while others kicked him in the groin, and violently twisting his already injured arm, Julian said.

McKenzie and Canjar also were convicted of making false sworn statements to Army investigators.

The US Army had said the three faced up to 25 years in jail if convicted on all charges. The soldiers said they acted in self-defence.

- REUTERS

Herald Feature: Iraq