BAGHDAD, Iraq
http://www.mnf-iraq.com
703.270.0320 / 0299

Oct. 15, 2006
Release A061015b

CCCI convicts 65 insurgents:  One sentenced to death, eight sentenced to life imprisonment

BAGHDAD — The Central Criminal Court of Iraq convicted 65 people from September 15 to October 4 for various crimes including possession of illegal weapons; using or forging IDs and weapons permits; heading, leading, and joining armed groups; escaping from prison; attempted use of explosives; threatening another person with commission of felony against his person or property; and illegal border crossing.

The trial court found one Iraqi man guilty of violating Article 4 of the Terrorist Law for joining armed groups to participate in terrorist activities and sentenced him to death.  The defendant is a known member of the Al-Qaida organization.

The trial court found four defendants guilty of violating Article 4 of the Terrorist Law and sentenced them to life imprisonment.  Coalition Force captured the defendants after observing the four men preparing to attack a checkpoint with an RPG and small arms.  Ground force personnel began firing and the four defendants returned fire with AK-47s.  The defendants then ran into a mosque where ground forces again came under fire from sniper fire and mortar rounds.  The defendants were charged with joining armed groups to disrupt stability and security of Iraq and endangering people’s lives.

The trial court found a Saudi Arabian man, captured by Coalition Force personnel in November of 2004, guilty of violating Article 194 of the Iraqi Penal Code for organizing, heading, leading or joining armed groups and sentenced him to life imprisonment.  The defendant admitted to being a foreign fighter who came to Iraq for jihad.

The trial court found two Iraqi men guilty of violating Article 345, use or attempted use of explosive, of the Iraqi Penal Code and sentenced them to life imprisonment.  Coalition ground forces captured the defendants while inspecting the blast area of an IED that exploded and killed a Coalition soldier.  The forces found a wire leading from the blast area to a house.  The wire led to an electrical device inside the house.

The trial court found one Iraqi man guilty of organizing, heading, leading or joining armed groups in violation of Article 194 of the Iraqi Penal Code and sentenced him to life imprisonment.  Coalition Force captured the defendant in December 2005 during a targeted raid.  The defendant was an active member of Ansar Al Sunna in Mosul.

Those convicted of passport violations and entering the country illegally included men from Egypt, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia and Iran.  Other sentences ranged from one year to 30 years imprisonment. 

Since its establishment in April 2004, the Central Criminal Court has held 1,612 trials for Coalition-apprehended insurgents.  The proceedings have resulted in 1,374 convictions with sentences ranging up to death.