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Guantanamo detainee Majid Khan admits terror charges | Guantanamo detainee Majid Khan admits terror charges |
(39 minutes later) | |
The first "high value" prisoner held at the US detention centre at Guantanamo Bay has pleaded guilty to terror charges at a military tribunal. | |
Pakistani Majid Khan, who had lived in the US, agreed to enter the plea in exchange for leniency. | Pakistani Majid Khan, who had lived in the US, agreed to enter the plea in exchange for leniency. |
He faces charges which include conspiring with al-Qaeda, murder and attempted murder. | He faces charges which include conspiring with al-Qaeda, murder and attempted murder. |
The 32-year-old has been in secret US custody since 2003 and alleges that he has been psychologically tortured. | The 32-year-old has been in secret US custody since 2003 and alleges that he has been psychologically tortured. |
Khan made a public appearance at the Guantanamo Bay tribunal for the first time after almost nine years in US custody. | |
'Psychologically tortured' | 'Psychologically tortured' |
He wore a dark suit and tie, and allowed his lawyer to speak on his behalf during the hearing. | |
"Mr Khan pleads as follows to all charges and specifications, guilty," Army Lt Col Jon Jackson, Khan's military lawyer, said. | "Mr Khan pleads as follows to all charges and specifications, guilty," Army Lt Col Jon Jackson, Khan's military lawyer, said. |
When the judge asked him if he agreed with the statement, Khan said: "Yes, sir". | When the judge asked him if he agreed with the statement, Khan said: "Yes, sir". |
His sentencing has been postponed until 2016. | His sentencing has been postponed until 2016. |
According to a plea bargain document released by the US government, Khan's sentence would be capped at 25 years in exchange for pleading guilty. | According to a plea bargain document released by the US government, Khan's sentence would be capped at 25 years in exchange for pleading guilty. |
It was expected that he would testify against his fellow detainees in return, although those details have not been released by the court. | It was expected that he would testify against his fellow detainees in return, although those details have not been released by the court. |
One of those detainees is Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. Khan is accused of meeting him in Pakistan and plotting to blow up fuel tanks in the US. | One of those detainees is Khaled Sheikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind of the 9/11 attacks. Khan is accused of meeting him in Pakistan and plotting to blow up fuel tanks in the US. |
Prosecutors also allege Khan volunteered to assassinate former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and passed money to the Islamist militant group Jemaah Islamiah. | Prosecutors also allege Khan volunteered to assassinate former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf and passed money to the Islamist militant group Jemaah Islamiah. |
He is accused of travelling to Bangkok to deliver $50,000 (£31,400) to the group. The money allegedly funded the August 2003 suicide bombing of the Marriott hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, which killed 11 people and wounded at least 81 others. | He is accused of travelling to Bangkok to deliver $50,000 (£31,400) to the group. The money allegedly funded the August 2003 suicide bombing of the Marriott hotel in Jakarta, Indonesia, which killed 11 people and wounded at least 81 others. |
Khan had moved to the US in the late 1990s, where he went to high school in Baltimore and worked at his family's petrol station. | Khan had moved to the US in the late 1990s, where he went to high school in Baltimore and worked at his family's petrol station. |
The US government says it was on his return to Pakistan that family members introduced him to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. | The US government says it was on his return to Pakistan that family members introduced him to Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. |
'Psychologically tortured' | |
Khan's guilty plea makes him the seventh prisoner to be convicted of war crimes offences since the military tribunal system was established at Guantanamo Bay. | |
After the detention facility opened in 2002, the US faced a complex legal debate about how to try those detained on the island. | |
Classified as "enemy combatants", many were designated high-risk prisoners and saw opposition either to their continued detention without charge or to the prospect of trying them within the US civilian system. | |
The US eventually settled on a system of military tribunals to try detainees at Guantanamo, while transferring some to the US mainland for civilian trials. Majid Khan is the first high-profile detainee to be convicted. | |
He was first arrested in March 2003, when Pakistani forces raided his family's home in Karachi. | |
They turned him over to the CIA and he was held in secret confinement overseas, until he was transferred to Guantanamo with other high-value detainees in 2006. | |
He told a military tribunal in 2007 that he had been "psychologically tortured" and had tried to commit suicide twice. | |
He denied have links with al-Qaeda. | |
The US military currently holds 171 prisoners at the prison, and officials have said about 35 could face war crimes charges. | The US military currently holds 171 prisoners at the prison, and officials have said about 35 could face war crimes charges. |