Bin Laden's Driver Sentenced to 5.5 Years

Finally after two weeks of trial, Bin Laden’s driver is sentenced to five and half years in prison while the jury of the US military court had suspected a 30-year imprisonment would be forthcoming.

ISNA reports that although a rough punishment was expected for Salim Hamdan, Bin Laden’s driver, he ultimately was sentenced to 5.5 years in prison.

According to the Military Commission at Guantanamo, Hamdan was convicted of material support for terrorism and since the U.S. recognizes him as an “enemy combatant”, he could be arrested again once his sentence has been served. Hamdan was convicted of providing support for terrorism and he was acquitted of conspiracy to murder. His trial began two weeks ago and although in the first Military commission trial by the U.S. army at Guantanamo, a minimum of 30 years in prison was requested for him, the Yemeni terrorist pleaded not guilty. During his trial, Hamdan expressed his sorrow and regret over the deaths of “innocent people” caused by his acts and apologized to all whom he has made suffer. Bin Laden’s driver said that the reason he was at Al Qaeda’s service was because he could not find a suitable job in his own country, Yemen. Hamdan also asked the jury to implement his sentence in a way similar to David Hicks’s, one of the Guantanamo prisoners.

David Hicks, who was recognized as an Australian terrorist by the U.S., following Military Commission approval, was condemned to seven years in prison and then moved to his home country.

Hamdan said, “Hicks is now free and lives with his family and children”. He ended by apologizing once again to the victims of the terrorist attacks.

Even though the jury convicted Hamdan of providing support for terrorists, some Human Rights advocates questioned the flawlessness of the court. Meanwhile, Tony Fratto, the White House deputy spokesman said he believes the trial of Bin Laden’s former driver was conducted fairly.

The judge had formerly given Hamdan credit for the five years he had already served in captivity in Guantanamo, and so his sentence is probably going to end in 6 months. According to the laws of the Military Commission , the judge does not determine the verdict, which is rather given by a jury of six U.S. military officers. One of the jury members said, “I, as the head of the jury, must inform you that this Military Commission sentences you to 66 months in prison.”

Hamdan’s trial was the first in a U.S. Military court since World War II.

Hamdan was arrested in Afghanistan two months after the September 11 attacks. It is said that he was carrying two surface-to-air missiles in his vehicle. Salim Hamdan confessed to working for Osama bin Laden from 1997 to 2001 with a wage of US$200 a month.