Oct 14, 2004

FBI Accused of Concealing Link to Mercenary Jailer in Afghanistan

FBI Accused of Concealing Link to Mercenary Jailer in Afghanistan: "FBI Accused of Concealing Link to Mercenary Jailer in Afghanistan by Declan Walsh and Kitty Logan in Kabul An American mercenary accused of kidnapping and torturing terror suspects in Afghanistan told a court in Kabul yesterday that the FBI was withholding hundreds of papers, photographs and videotapes showing that he was employed by the agency, as well as by the CIA and the US military. The American government denies all links with the former special forces soldier, Jonathan 'Jack' Idema, a convicted fraudster, but has agreed to return the controversial documents, the court hearing was told. The case against Mr Idema was adjourned for a week to allow him to examine the documents and prove his alleged links with the US government. Mr Idema, a 48-year-old former green beret, and his fellow Americans, Edward Caraballo and Brett Bennett, were arrested last month after police found a makeshift jail inside their Kabul house. Detainees claimed they had been held for days, doused in scalding water or hung from the ceiling by their feet. The three men were charged with hostage-taking, torturing eight people and entering Afghanistan illegally."

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