Nilanjana Bhowmick - AHN News Writer
San Juan, Puerto Rico (AHN) - The U.S. has dropped murder charges against a Saudi national who has been detained in the Guantanamo prison camp. Mohammed al-Qahtani is one of six men facing murder charges before a U.S.military tribunal.
U.S. military officials confirmed on Monday that charges have been prepared only against the five remaining men.
Qahtani had been marked as the "20th Hijacker" in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Later investigation found that Qahtani could not have taken part in the attacks as U.S. immigration did not allow him entry.
Susan Crawford, the convening authority for military commissions, dismissed the charges against Qahtani on Friday. The charges were dismissed without prejudice which means they can be filed again later.
A spokesman for the Pentagon confirmed that the case against the other five was proceeding and arraignment will be within a month of the charges being served.
Qahtani had recanted a confession that he said was extracted from him under torture. U.S. officials had also acknowledged that Qahtani was tortured harshly at Guantanamo. He had also been subjected to water boarding by CIA officials.
Article © AHN - All Rights Reserved
|
