Marine who disappeared in Iraq ten years ago goes on trial for desertion after being discovered in Lebanon
- Cpl. Wassef Hassoun faces a general court-martial on charges of desertion, larceny and destruction of government property
- The case began in June 2004, when Hassoun disappeared from a base in Fallujah, Iraq
- One week after his dissapearance he appeared in a photo purportedly taken by insurgents
A U.S.
Marine who vanished from his unit in Iraq and later wound up in Lebanon
for eight years will face trial on desertion and other charges, the
military said Friday.
Maj.
Gen. William D. Beydler has referred 34-year-old Cpl. Wassef Hassoun
for a general court-martial on charges of desertion, larceny and
destruction of government property, according to a news release from the
Marines.
No date has been set for Hassoun's trial at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina, where he is being held.
Marine Corps Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun was
charged a month ago with desertion in a mysterious case in which he left
his unit in Iraq only to turn up in Lebanon
The
case began in June 2004, when Hassoun disappeared from a base in
Fallujah, Iraq. About a week later, he appeared in a photo purportedly
taken by insurgents.
Hassoun was blindfolded and had a sword poised above his head.
Hassoun, a
naturalized American citizen who was born and grew up in Lebanon,
turned up days later at the U.S. Embassy in Lebanon saying he was
kidnapped by extremists.
But
the military doubted his story, and he was brought back to the U.S.
while charges were considered. He was allowed to visit relatives in Utah
in December 2004 when he disappeared again — eventually winding up back
in Lebanon.
The case began in June 2004, when Hassoun disappeared from a base in Fallujah, Iraq
Defense
attorney Haytham Faraj argues that Hassoun was prevented from leaving
for years by Lebanese authorities and came back to the U.S. after travel
restrictions were lifted.
Faraj,
himself a former Marine, said he's seen many similar cases dating to
the Vietnam era in which the desertion charge was changed to
unauthorized absence, and service members were given administrative
punishment.
To prove desertion, the military must show a serviceman intended not to come back.
'The intent to remain permanently away isn't there,' Faraj said. 'Here we have a clear case of a person who came back.'
Faraj
has said the report by the military equivalent of a grand jury hearing
notes that the case consists mostly of circumstantial evidence and that
many witnesses, including some in Iraq, would be hard to find.
Hassoun approaches a podium to read a statement
to the media July 19, 2004 outside the U.S. Marine Corps Base in
Quantico, Virginia. saying he was captured and held against his will by
anti-coalition forces for 19 days
Military prosecutors argue Hassoun was unhappy with his deployment and left the Marines in Iraq in 2004.
They
cited witnesses who said Hassoun didn't like how the U.S. was
interrogating Iraqis and that he said he wouldn't shoot back at Iraqis.
Military
officials say a marriage for Hassoun had been arranged with a woman in
Lebanon. They are now married and have a son who has dual U.S. and
Lebanese citizenship.
Faraj,
who maintains the kidnapping story is true, has said his client
traveled to Lebanon in early 2005 while on leave and was soon arrested.
Faraj argues that court proceedings in Lebanon were triggered by the
U.S. charges against Hassoun.
Military prosecutors argue Hassoun, seen here
with brother Mohamad Hassoun, was unhappy with his deployment and left
the Marines in Iraq in 2004
Marine
prosecutors say Hassoun's whereabouts were unknown for eight years. He
was returned to the U.S. in 2014 after he contacted officials here.
Translated
Lebanese government documents provided to the court say Hassoun was
arrested in 2005 by Lebanese authorities after Interpol issued a
bulletin triggered by his status as a deserter.
The
documents, which the defense also gave to The Associated Press, say
Lebanese authorities released him but took his passport and prevented
him from traveling.
The
documents indicate that Lebanese officials declined to extradite
Hassoun and he was eventually fined for theft of military tools — a
charge that mirrors the U.S. larceny count.
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