Abu Ghraib dog handler convicted

A US Army dog handler has been convicted of abusing prisoners with his dog at Iraq’s Abu Ghraib jail.

Sgt Santos Cardona, 32, was found guilty on two of nine charges of abuse and dereliction of duty at the prison, near Baghdad, in 2003 and 2004.

Cardona now faces up to three-and-a-half years in jail.

The military policeman is the 11th American soldier to be convicted in connection with abuse of detainees at Abu Ghraib jail.

‘Biggest mistake’

As well as his jail term, Cardona could also be discharged from the army or have his rank reduced.

A US military jury cleared Cardona of seven other charges at a trial at Fort Meade in Maryland. The court martial began on Tuesday.

President George W Bush last week called the incident the biggest mistake of America’s war in Iraq.

The prosecution had described Sgt Cardona as one of a group of “corrupt cops” who tormented Iraqi prisoners for fun.

But the defence argued the accused was only obeying orders from senior officers.

The Abu Ghraib scandal came to light in 2004, after photographs showing the abuse and sexual humiliation of Iraqi prisoners were leaked to the US press.

Some had shown unmuzzled dogs threatening naked prisoners.

BBC