CHARGES AGAINST MILITARY OFFICER TERROR SUSPECTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001309

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/ARPI

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2015
TAGS: PTER PGOV PREL MOPS KU TERRORISM
SUBJECT: CHARGES AGAINST MILITARY OFFICER TERROR SUSPECTS
DROPPED

REF: KUWAIT 990

Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (U) Reportedly citing the absence of a crime, Kuwaiti
Public Prosecutors on March 29 dropped charges against two
former active-duty Kuwait Army soldiers who were detained on
January 3 for allegedly plotting attacks against U.S.
military assets in Kuwait. The pair, released on bail in
mid-February (reftel),were among fifteen Kuwaiti military
personnel detained in January, and have since been discharged
from the military. The other 13 were released almost
immediately for lack of evidence. (Although not confirmed,
the two soldiers are believed to be LTC Fahd Al-Mutairi and
Cpt. Talal Al-Enezi.)


2. (U) Mohammed Al-Mutairi, the defense lawyer for one of the
released suspects, blamed "security officials who acted on
weak information and rumors" for erroneously detaining his
client. Although Mutairi said that investigations into the
allegations had been "permanently halted," Deputy Prime
Minister and Defense Minister Shaykh Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah
told local dailies March 29 that the army's judicial
department "is still assessing the case."


3. (C) Comment: The apparent exhoneration of military
personnel suspected of planning attacks against U.S. forces
is deeply disturbing. Post is requesting a full explanation
of both cases from GOK authorities, and will continue to
closely monitor the actions of the GOK on this issue. End
Comment.

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