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US prison chief arrested in Iraq US prison chief arrested in Iraq
(about 1 hour later)
The commander of a US military prison in Iraq has been arrested for aiding detainees and other alleged offences. The commander of a major US military prison in Iraq has been arrested for offences including aiding the enemy.
Lt Col William Steele faces charges for having "improper" relations with his translator and another Iraqi woman, and mishandling documents, officials said. Lt Col William Steele is accused of giving detainees free use of a mobile phone at Camp Cropper and fraternising with the daughter of a detainee.
Prior to his arrest, Col Steele was commander of the Camp Cropper detention centre in Baghdad. It is the latest of several scandals involving US jails in Iraq, the worst being the 2003 Abu Ghraib abuse case.
Saddam Hussein had medical checks there, although the military says Col Steele was never responsible for him. Col Steele is also accused of improper behaviour with his Iraqi interpreter and holding unauthorised information.
He has been detained and is now in Kuwait, a US military spokeswoman said. There are four overall charges against Col Steele and nine specific alleged offences. He was arrested last month and is being detained in Kuwait, a US military spokeswoman said.
"His current status is that he is in confinement and waiting for his Article 32 hearing," she said. CHARGES AGAINST COL STEELE Providing unmonitored mobile phone to detaineesMishandling classified informationFraternising with detainee's daughterInappropriate relationship with interpreter and providing her special privilegesFailing to obey a lawful orderPossessing pornographic videosFailing obligations as approving authority for expenditure Others offences include dereliction in the performance of his duties, failing to obey an order and wrongfully possessing pornographic videos.
The hearing is conducted by a panel of military officers who will decide whether the suspect should face charges. The alleged offences took place between October 2005 and February 2007, a US statement said. Col Steele was arrested in March.
"His current status is that he is in confinement and waiting for his Article 32 hearing," the spokeswoman said.
The hearing would conducted by a panel of military officers who are to decide whether the suspect should face charges.
CriticismCriticism
Camp Cropper, in the west of the Iraqi capital close to Baghdad International Airport, is believed to hold about 3,300 Iraqi prisoners.Camp Cropper, in the west of the Iraqi capital close to Baghdad International Airport, is believed to hold about 3,300 Iraqi prisoners.
It is the second largest US military jail in Iraq, the other being Camp Bucca, near Umm Qasr in the south of the country, which holds an estimated 15,000 detainees.It is the second largest US military jail in Iraq, the other being Camp Bucca, near Umm Qasr in the south of the country, which holds an estimated 15,000 detainees.
Executed former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein spent time there, including for medical treatment, although the US military says he was never under Col Steele's responsibility.
US detention facilities in Iraq have been the target of sustained criticism for holding detainees without charge and for widespread abuse of prisoners.US detention facilities in Iraq have been the target of sustained criticism for holding detainees without charge and for widespread abuse of prisoners.
The worst controversy was in 2003 and 2004 when it was revealed that guards abused prisoners at the notorious Abu Ghreib prison on the outskirts of Baghdad. The worst controversy was in the first year of the US occupation of Iraq, when it was revealed that guards abused prisoners at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison on the outskirts of Baghdad.
The US military never disclosed where it was holding Saddam Hussein, until his execution in December.