Security
Italy: Judge convicts CIA agents in landmark case
Milan, 4 Nov. (AKI) - An Italian judge on Wednesday convicted 23 CIA agents and two Italian agents over their role in the 2003 kidnapping of a Muslim cleric. Milan judge Oscar Magi sentenced former Milan CIA station chief Bob Sheldon Lady to eight years and 22 other agents to five years in prison for their role in the abduction of Osama Moustafa Hassan Nasr, also known as Abu Omar.
Nasr (photo) was allegedly abducted from a street in the northern Italian city of Milan and flown to Egypt where he claims he was tortured. He was released in February, 2007.
Citing diplomatic immunity, Magi acquitted three other Americans, including the CIA's former chief in Italy, Jeff Castelli. All of the Americans were tried in absentia.
Magi sentenced two former Italian secret agents, Luciano Seno and Pio Pompa, to three years in prison.
But he invoked state secrecy in ruling that ex-Italian spymaster Nicolo Pollari and former secret agent Marco Mancini would not stand trial. They were among five Italians acquitted in the case.
Prosecutors had asked for jail terms of 13 years for Pollari and 10 years for Mancini.
"Today's sentence shows that our legal action was legitimate," said prosecutor Armando Spataro, commenting on Magi's verdict.
The landmark trial, which began in June 2007, is the first involving the CIA's so-called "extraordinary rendition" programme.
The CIA has declined to comment on the case, and Italy's government has denied involvement.
Subsequent Italian governments, including the current conservative government led by Silvio Berlusconi, have refused or ignored prosecutors' requests to extradite the American defendants to stand trial in Italy.
Magi ruled the trial should continue after Italy's highest court declared some key evidence inadmissible because it was considered classified.
Pollari and several other former Italian secret service officials invoked state secrecy and refused to testify at the trial. Pollari resigned over the affair.
Nasr's wife Ghali Nabila last month claimed 5 million euros in compensation, while lawyers acting for Nasr sought 10 million euros in compensation for the distress he and his family suffered.
Nasr was suspected of recruiting Muslim fighters to train in Afghanistan. He could still face arrest if he returns to Italy.
Nasr (photo) was allegedly abducted from a street in the northern Italian city of Milan and flown to Egypt where he claims he was tortured. He was released in February, 2007.
Citing diplomatic immunity, Magi acquitted three other Americans, including the CIA's former chief in Italy, Jeff Castelli. All of the Americans were tried in absentia.
Magi sentenced two former Italian secret agents, Luciano Seno and Pio Pompa, to three years in prison.
But he invoked state secrecy in ruling that ex-Italian spymaster Nicolo Pollari and former secret agent Marco Mancini would not stand trial. They were among five Italians acquitted in the case.
Prosecutors had asked for jail terms of 13 years for Pollari and 10 years for Mancini.
"Today's sentence shows that our legal action was legitimate," said prosecutor Armando Spataro, commenting on Magi's verdict.
The landmark trial, which began in June 2007, is the first involving the CIA's so-called "extraordinary rendition" programme.
The CIA has declined to comment on the case, and Italy's government has denied involvement.
Subsequent Italian governments, including the current conservative government led by Silvio Berlusconi, have refused or ignored prosecutors' requests to extradite the American defendants to stand trial in Italy.
Magi ruled the trial should continue after Italy's highest court declared some key evidence inadmissible because it was considered classified.
Pollari and several other former Italian secret service officials invoked state secrecy and refused to testify at the trial. Pollari resigned over the affair.
Nasr's wife Ghali Nabila last month claimed 5 million euros in compensation, while lawyers acting for Nasr sought 10 million euros in compensation for the distress he and his family suffered.
Nasr was suspected of recruiting Muslim fighters to train in Afghanistan. He could still face arrest if he returns to Italy.
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