Osama Bin Laden’s Former Driver Convicted

By Wyatt Earp | August 6, 2008

This is the first war crimes trial held at Gitmo under the Militray Commissions Act.

GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL BASE, Cuba — A U.S. military jury found Osama bin Laden’s former driver guilty of five counts of material support to a terror organization in the September 11, 2001, attacks.

In a split verdict, jurors found Salim Hamdan not guilty of conspiracy to aid a terror organization, in this case al Qaeda.

Hamdan cried at the defense table, holding his head in his hands, as a Navy captain presiding over the jury read the verdict, according to The Associated Press.

“Hamdan is now considered a convicted war criminal and is no longer considered an enemy combatant and will be held separately from the other detainees at Guantanamo because of his new status,” Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said.

Apparently, Hamdan was more than just the average chauffeur. Of course, driving for Osama bin Laden is not your average occupation, either.

Prosecutors allege that Hamdan, who was picked up in November 2001 in Afghanistan, overheard conversations about 9/11 and had other information that showed he was part of Osama bin Laden’s inner circle and aided and abetted the attacks. (H/T – CNN)

Unlike the victims of the September 11th attacks, Hamdan will not receive the death penalty. The maximum sentence for his conviction is life in prison.

The Jawa Report has more on the story HERE.

Topics: War On Terror | 4 Comments »