Terrorism charges dropped against ex-Iraqi officials ("no witnesses to testify they were involved")

[sabra]

Source: Reuters

BAGHDAD, March 3 (Reuters) - Prosecutors dropped charges on Monday against a former Iraqi deputy health minister accused of abusing his position to allow sectarian killings, a prosecution source and defence lawyers said.

Hakim al-Zamili, a member of powerful Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's political movement, was the first senior Iraqi official to face terrorism charges since the U.S.-led invasion to topple Saddam Hussein in 2003.

Zamili was being tried with Brigadier-General Hameed al-Shimari, the Health Ministry's former chief of security.

About eight people had filed charges accusing the pair of corruption and masterminding the kidnappings and killings of family members. Both men denied the charges.

...

"The court has decided to release both Hakim al-Zamili and Hameed al-Shimari for lack of evidence. All testimonies heard by the court were not strong enough to convict them," a prosecution source said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

...

"The court did not find a single piece of evidence on either of the two regarding the killings and kidnappings," Amir Taher, the head of Zamili's defence team, told Reuters.

"There were also no witnesses to testify they were involved in killing and kidnapping, so they are free to go," he said.


Read more: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L03687940.htm

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Wow, Democracy @ work :sarcasm:

[chusmeria]

1. Since when did a government need witnesses

to convict people on charges of terrorism? We certainly don't.

[rocktivity]

2. Candidate for this month's "You Call This NEWS?" award

"No witnesses to testify they were involved in killing and kidnapping?" Hands up who DIDN'T see that coming!

:hi:
rocknation