US jury orders military contractor to pay $42 million in Abu Ghraib torture case
A US jury on Tuesday directed defence contractor CACI Premier Technology to disburse $42 million in damages to three Iraqi men who had sued the company 16 years ago for its complicity in their torture at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq.
A federal jury on Tuesday ordered a US defense contractor to pay $42 million in damages to three Iraqi men who were tortured at Abu Ghraib prison, their lawyers said.
CACI Premier Technology Inc was found liable at the conclusion of a long-running trial for its role in the torture of the three men at the notorious prison in 2003 and 2004, the Center for Constitutional Rights said.
Suhail Al Shimari, a middle school principal, Asa'ad Zuba'e, a fruit vendor, and Salah Al-Ejaili, a journalist, were each awarded $14 million in damages, the center said in a statement.
The three men filed suit against CACI, a private company based in Arlington, Virginia, in 2008.
Abu Ghraib prison, west of Baghdad, became a potent negative symbol of the US occupation of Iraq after evidence emerged of detainee abuse by American soldiers at the facility.
Most of the abuse took place at the end of 2003, when CACI employees were working in the prison, according to the suit.
The company's civilian employees were accused of having encouraged US soldiers to abuse the prisoners to prepare them for interrogation.
Criminal charges were brought against 11 low-ranking guards, including former army reserve specialist Lynndie England, who was shown smiling in photographs while posing next to naked prisoners.
(AFP)
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