Criminal charges expected in two detainee cases
From Barbara Starr
CNN Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Army troops suspected of involvement in the deaths of two detainees in Afghanistan are expected to face criminal charges, an Army official told CNN.
The December 2002 deaths have been under review by the Army's Criminal Investigation Command (CID). The investigation is nearly complete.
The CID is expected to make the recommendation of charges to be filed to Army commanders. It is not known whom the CID will recommend be charged and whether that might include both military police and military intelligence personnel, the official said.
The cases have been controversial partly because of how long the investigation has taken.
The investigation was revealed May 22 as part of the disclosure of investigations in Iraq. The Pentagon said 37 people have died in detention in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Seven of those deaths took place at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison where U.S. soldiers have been accused of abusing inmates. (Full story)
Only two cases were detailed in Afghanistan.
One case involved a man named Mullah Habibullah who died while in custody at Bagram Air Base.
According to a death certificate signed by a U.S. Army pathologist, Habibullah died from "pulmonary embolism due to blunt force injury to the legs."
The cause of death was listed as a homicide by the medical examiner.
"Decedent was found unresponsive in his cell while in custody," according to the official.
Military officials say the homicide finding by the medical examiner only indicates death at the hands of another, and not criminal intent.
The other death involved a detainee listed only as Dilawar, who also died at Bagram.
His death certificate also is listed as a homicide due to "blunt force injuries to lower extremities complicating coronary artery disease."
