UPDATE ON TURKISH EXTRADITION REQUEST

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003445 SIPDIS SENSITIVE THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE, ALBEIT UNCLASSIFIED, AND IS NOT SUITABLE FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: MOPS PHUM PINS PTER TU IZ SUBJECT: UPDATE ON TURKISH EXTRADITION REQUEST REF: BAGHDAD 3201 ¶1. (SBU) Coalition Forces are working with the Central Criminal Court of Iraq (CCCI) to expedite the trial of two Turkish nationals requested for extradition by Turkey on suspicion of involvement in the Istanbul bombings. (As noted in Reftel, the CCCI has informed Post that it intends to try both individuals prior to their extradition to Turkey.) ¶2. (SBU) One of the two extradition candidates, Sadettin Akdas, was tried by the CCCI on August 7, 2005 and convicted of crimes against the internal security of the state. He was sentenced to twenty years' imprisonment, and is now available for extradition. He remains in a Coalition detention facility pending Iraqi approval of the Turkish extradition request. ¶3. (SBU) The remaining candidate, Burhan Kus, attended an investigative hearing on August 15, 2005, at which he admitted illegal entry into Iraq for the purpose of conducting terrorist attacks. We expect he will appear before a CCCI trial panel in mid-to-late September; conviction appears likely. ¶3. (SBU) Post has arranged a meeting of Turkish Ambassador Cevikoz, Major General William Brandenburg (MNF-I Deputy Commanding General - Detainee Operations) and Judge Medhat, President of the Iraqi Higher Juridical Council on August 23, 2005 to discuss next steps in the extradition of Mr. Akdas. Khalilzad