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New trends found in Iraqi VP Hashemi's
case that will avoid death sentence
5.6.2012 |
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Iraq's fugitive Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi who
is on trial in absentia. He accused of running a
death squad, said that he has no faith in the Iraqi
justice system.
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June 5, 2012
BAGHDAD,— Sources close to Iraq's Sunni
Vice President Tareq al-Hashemi said a new trend was
discovered in Hashemi's case that will avoid a death
sentence being passed against him in the near
future.
An anonymous source close to the VP said: "Hashemi
is now looking for the confession of his son-in-law
Ahmed Qahtan because it is the only way to keep
himself away from the death penalty, especially
because the charges are currently against Qahtan.
"The confessions of some of the witnesses and the
protection elements are not enough to criminalize
Hashemi and they said things that anyone can talk
about."
In response to these statements, the chief of
Hashemi's defense committee Muayyid al-Izzi said:
"The evidence suggests the involvement of Qahtan in
terms of the issuance of orders, and we have asked
him to come to court to testify because he has many
secrets that may solve the puzzles, but he did not
respond."
With regard to the legal position and the evidence
presented at the trial, Izzi added: "There is no
evidence that our client committed any crime. The
orders are issued from Qahtan and the latter will be
convicted, while Hashemi in the worst cases, will be
considered an instigator for the participation in
this act and it is not punishable by Iraqi law."
Izzi demanded at the recent court session held late
last month to hear the testimony of President Jalal
Talabani and see if he had any information about the
involvement of the protection of his deputy as well
as an evaluation of the security file and Hashemi
personally. But the court confirmed the lack of need
for this.
With regard to the reason behind not assigning a
lawyer to Ahmed Qahtan to defend him, although he is
Hashemi's son-in-law, Izzi said: "Hashemi may use
this for a legal maneuver because the legal evidence
points to the involvement of his brother-in-law only
in the issues.
"The vice president rules out the commitment of his
son-in-law for the crimes against him, but this does
not mean that he is innocent. All possibilities are
open, including that he issued personal orders to
the protection elements and claimed they were issued
from Hashemi."
On the legal developments in Hashemi's case, Izzi
said: "The general rule says that everything is
expected in the court and the Iraqi judiciary, on
the condition of providing witnesses, arguments,www.ekurd.net
data and irrefutable evidence. This could change the
entire course of the case, although some witnesses
confirmed that they receive orders directly from
Hashemi to carry out assassinations and armed
attacks.
"The incitement to murder is a form of crime and
conspiracy and this happened with the toppled
President Hosni Mubarak who was accused of inciting
the killing of demonstrators. He was sentenced to
life imprisonment."
Hashemi, who is currently in Ankara, is accused of
terrorism and running death squads. It is alleged
that the VP and his bodyguards killed and bombed
members of the security forces and some state
employees.
By Afrah Shawqi
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