Major Convicted in Iraqi Prisoner Abuse
A Marine Corps officer was convicted Wednesday of dereliction of duty and maltreatment of prisoners for not stopping his subordinates from abusing Iraqis. A court-martial acquitted Maj. Clarke Paulus of assault and battery.
The same jury sentenced Paulus to be discharged from the Marine Corps. His attorney vowed to appeal that decision to the commanding general.
Paulus was the officer in charge of a prison facility outside Nasiriyah when Nagem Sadoon Hatab, 52, a Baath Party member and reputed “hit man” for Saddam Hussein, died in custody.
Paulus allegedly ordered a subordinate to drag Hatab by his neck out of a cell while he was semiconscious.
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