Multi-National Corps – Iraq
Public Affairs Office, Camp Victory
APO AE 09342

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
RELEASE No. 20080623-01
June 23, 2008

Civilian contractor convicted at a court-martial

Multi-National Corps – Iraq

BAGHDAD – At a court-martial Sunday, Alaa “Alex” Mohammad Ali, a contractor serving as an interpreter with U.S. armed forces in Iraq, pleaded guilty to wrongful appropriation of a knife owned by a U.S. Soldier; obstruction of justice for wrongfully disposing of the knife after it was used in a fight with another interpreter; and making a false official statement to military investigators.  A military judge sentenced Mr. Ali to five months confinement.
 
Mr. Ali was originally charged with aggravated assault for allegedly stabbing another contractor at a combat outpost near Hit, Iraq, Feb. 23, 2008.  After the military judge accepted his guilty plea to the other charges, the prosecution dismissed the assault charge. 
 
This is the first time a civilian has been tried by court-martial under a 2006 amendment to the Uniform Code of Military Justice – Section 552 of the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 2007 (October 17, 2006).
 
This amendment states that civilian contractors working for the U.S. government can be punished for violations of the UCMJ. 
 
After a pretrial investigation into the allegation, the investigating officer, Lt. Col. Charles E. Febus, recommended the assault charge be forwarded to the general court-martial convening authority, Lt. Gen. Lloyd J. Austin III, commanding general, MNC-I, for referral to a general court-martial. General Austin referred the charge to a general court-martial May 10, 2008.
 
Mr. Ali has been in confinement at Camp Victory since Feb. 29, 2008.
 
Mr. Ali was afforded all the same rights, protections and privileges servicemembers receive in military court, including the right to counsel, right to speedy trial, protection against self-incrimination and presumption of innocence.  He was represented by military defense counsel.  He will continue to be afforded all the post-trial and appellate rights provided to servicemembers.

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