DETAINEE LUFTI BIN SWEI LAGHA HAS NOT COMPLAINED

S E C R E T TUNIS 001007 SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA: GCRETZ, NEA/MAG (SWILLIAMS MNARDI, VSTEWART),DRL: KMCGEENEY, S/WCI: ARICCI DOD/OSD:ALIOTTA, DOJ/ODAG:MSTRANSKY E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/30/2028 TAGS: PREL PTER PHUM KDRG TS SUBJECT: DETAINEE LUFTI BIN SWEI LAGHA HAS NOT COMPLAINED OF MISTREATMENT REF: A. STATE 91304 AND PREVIOUS ¶B. TUNIS 992 ¶C. TUNIS 973 ¶D. TUNIS 193 ¶E. TUNIS 042 ¶F. 07 TUNIS 1483 ¶G. 07 TUNIS 1060 ¶H. 07 TUNIS 967 ¶I. 07 TUNIS 964 Classified By: Ambassador Robert F. Godec for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (C) Summary: Mabruk Lagha, the older brother of former Guantanamo detainee Lufti Ben Swei reported that he sees his brother about 3-4 times per month and gives him food and clothing. He did not report any mistreatment. Lutfi says his HEALTH is fine but Mabruk personally worries about his brother's health. Lufti thinks he will remain in prison until the USG tells the GOT to release him. His lawyer intends to request access. End Summary. -------------- Brother Visits Regularly -------------- ¶2. (C) PolOff met with Lufti Bin Swei's (Guantanamo detainee returned to Tunisia in 2007) older brother Mabruk Lagha September 8 to discuss Lutfi's condition and terms of treatment in prison. Mabruk said he sees his brother about once a week and brings him food and sometimes clothing. The rest of Lufti's siblings and his parents live in the south of Tunis so Mabruk is the only ONE who sees him regularly. Mabruk travels an hour by bus and often has to wait three or four hours once he arrives at the prison before he sees his brother. He said he most recently visited Lufti September 5 and for the first time was allowed to see him for about 45 minutes. Usually he is only permitted to see him for 20-30 minutes. He credits the fact that he informed the prison officials that he would be meeting with someone from the US embassy this week for the longer visitation period. He said their conversations are recorded. Lufti is kept in a 9 foot by 9 foot cell and has other prisoners in the cell with him. It was not clear if he has more than ONE cellmate at a time. The cellmate changes frequently and Lufti is convinced that the authorities are putting informers in his cell. ¶3. (S) Mabruk said Lufti has not complained about his health, however he thinks that Lufti does not look well. He also noted that Lufti lost several of his fingers and some of his toes (after suffering frostbite in the mountains of Afghanistan and Pakistan). Lufti told Mabruk that more of his fingers were removed in Guantanamo, possibly due to lack of proper treatment. -------------- Sentence -------------- ¶4. (S) Mabruk reported that his brother believes he will stay in prison until the USG tells the GOT to release him. Lufti claimed he was informed by USG personnel before he arrived in Tunisia that he would be sentenced to three years in prison. When he heard his sentence in the Tunisian court and it was the predicted length he decided that the USG had told the GOT how long to detain him. -------------- Attorney to Request Visit -------------- ¶5. (S) Lufti's lawyer Samir Amour was present during part of this meeting. Samir said he has not visited Lufti since his sentencing nor has he formally asked to visit him, believing the request would be denied. However, he plans to make a formal request soon. DESJARDINS