BAGHDAD, Iraq - The Central Criminal Court of Iraq convicted 23 security detainees from Feb. 11 - 17, for various crimes including possession of illegal weapons, possessing fake identification, passport violations and illegal border crossing.The trial court found a Moroccan man guilty of Article 24 of the Iraqi Penal Code for illegal boarder crossing. On Dec. 29, 2004, The defendant crossed the border into Iraq and was apprehended by Iraqi Boarder Patrol (IBP). After being questioned by IBP, the defendant was further questioned upon suspicion of being a suicide bomber affiliated with Al Qaeda, these suspicions were validated. The defendant was then transferred to MNF custody. On Feb. 11 the trial panel found the defendant guilty and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
The trial court found two Iraqi men guilty of illegal possession of special category weapons in violation of Order 3/2003 Section 6, Paragraph 2B. On Dec. 10, 2006, MNF detained the defendants during a security patrol near Haditha after spotting suspicious antennas on the roof of the defendants' house. Inside the house MNF found ID making material, a timer, a circuit tester and an HK magazine. MNF then searched two sheds within the compound and found numerous rifles, handguns, explosives, hand grenades, ammunition and military radios. On Feb. 13 the trial panel found the defendants guilty and sentenced them each to 30 years imprisonment.
The trial court found four Iraqi men guilty of illegal possession of special category weapons in violation of Order 3/2003 Section 6, Paragraph 2B. On Nov. 15, 2006, MNF were conducting a targeted sweep near Turki Village. MNF saw one defendant carrying a pistol. MNF then chased after him when he ran away. MNF soon came under attack from a shed and one American soldier was killed. MNF defended themselves and killed one of the insurgents and captured three others. The original defendant who had the pistol was apprehended by another team of soldiers nearby. Inside the shed and on its roof were a total of four AK-47s, six hand grenades, one PKC heavy machine gun, dozens of Republican Guard uniforms and 16 AK-47 magazines loaded with armor piercing rounds along with other weapons. All the defendants tested positive for explosives residue. On Feb. 14 the trial panel found all the defendants guilty and sentenced them each to 30 years imprisonment.
Those convicted of passport violations, possessing and using false ID's, illegal boarder crossing and illegal possession of special category weapons were, sentenced from between two years to life imprisonment. Those convicted totaled 19 Iraqis and one each from Egypt, Morocco, Sudan and Yemen.
Since its reorganization, under an amendment to CPA order 13, in April 2004, the Central Criminal Court has held 1,888 trials for Coalition-apprehended insurgents. The proceedings have resulted in the conviction of 1,630 individuals with sentences ranging up to death.