Posted on 02/24/2004 11:37:17 AM PST by optimistically_conservative
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States has brought conspiracy charges against a Yemeni man and a Sudanese man, both described as having close ties to al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden (news - web sites), making them the first Guantanamo Bay prisoners to face criminal charges, the Pentagon (news - web sites) said on Tuesday.
The Defense Department said Ali Hamza Ahmed Sulayman al Bahlul of Yemen and Ibrahim Ahmed Mahmoud al Qosi of Sudan were charged with a single count each of conspiracy to commit war crimes and will be brought to trial before a military tribunal.
Pentagon spokesman Maj. John Smith said Pentagon prosecutors do not plan to seek the death penalty against either man if convicted.
Both are among the roughly 650 foreign terrorism suspects imprisoned at the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
In a statement, the Pentagon identified al Bahlul as a "key al Qaeda propagandist who produced videos glorifying the murder of Americans to recruit, inspire and motivate other al Qaeda members" to attack Americans, the United States and other countries.
The Pentagon described al Qosi as a key al Qaeda accountant and weapons smuggler who was "a long-time assistant and associate of bin Laden dating back to the time when bin Laden lived in Sudan." The Pentagon said both men have served as personal bodyguards for bin Laden.
NOTE The following text is a quote:
www.defense.gov/releases/release.aspx?releaseid=13792
IMMEDIATE RELEASE No. 718-10
August 11, 2010
Al Qosi Sentence Announced
The Department of Defense announced today that Ibrahim al Qosi was sentenced to 14 years in confinement for conspiracy and providing material support to al Qaeda.
The sentencing hearing took place in a military commission courtroom at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. It follows al Qosi’s guilty plea in July. During his guilty plea, al Qosi admitted that he engaged in hostilities against the United States in violation of the laws of war. He admitted that he intentionally supported al Qaeda since at least 1996, when Osama bin Laden issued an order urging his followers to commit acts of terrorism against the United States.
At the sentencing hearing, the prosecutors presented evidence that al Qosi performed an important function within al Qaeda. He provided key logistics support to bin Laden at various al Qaeda compounds in Afghanistan. After the September 11, 2001, attacks, he helped bin Laden and other al Qaeda forces escape Afghanistan in anticipation of a U.S. invasion. He was captured fleeing Afghanistan in December 2001. The defense presented video testimony from members of his family in Sudan, including his father, cousin and brother.
At the end of the hearing, al Qosi was sentenced by a panel of military officers, known as “members” – the equivalent of a jury in civilian courts. The defense and the prosecution asked the military judge to instruct the members to consider a sentence of 12 to 15 years of confinement. Under the Manual for Military Commissions, al Qosi will not receive credit for the time he spent in law of war detention before his conviction. The Convening Authority will defer his sentence for a period of 60 days in order to facilitate resolution of matters related to where al Qosi will serve his sentence.
After the military commission adjourns, the Office of Military Commissions will finalize the record of trial, including all the related documents. The military judge must review the record to ensure it is accurate, after which it will be sent to the Convening Authority for Military Commissions. The Convening Authority may reduce, but not increase, al Qosi’s sentence. After reviewing the record, the Convening Authority will take final action on the findings and sentence, announcing the sentence that al Qosi will serve.
NOTE: Sketch included.
“Osama Bin Laden’s former cook Ibrahim al-Qosi sentenced to 14 years by Guantanamo jury”
BY SEAN ALFANO
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Thursday, August 12th 2010, 7:43 AM
SNIPPET: “Osama Bin Laden’s former cook was served with a 14-year prison sentence by a Guantanamo Bay military jury Wednesday after reaching a plea agreement with U.S. military officials.
Ibrahim al-Qosi, who was also Bin Laden’s bodyguard and driver, pled guilty last month to conspiracy and supporting terrorism.”
SNIPPET: “The 50-year-old from Sudan has admitted to working for the Al Qaeda leader and said that while he knew the terror group bombed U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 and carried out the 9/11 attacks, he was not involved in the planning.”
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