Cablegate: Iraqi Moi Says Investigation Into Site 4 Complete

VZCZCXRO6519
OO RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3790 2850400
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 120400Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7369
INFO RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON DC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003790

SIPDIS

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

EO12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PINS KJUS IZ
SUBJECT: IRAQI MOI SAYS INVESTIGATION INTO SITE 4 COMPLETE

1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In a meeting with the DCM, Minister of Interior
Bolani said he had just finished his investigation of the people
implicated in the abuses at Site 4. He promised to inform us of the
results before announcing them publicly on October 12. He noted
that as a result of the investigation he could take administrative
action or authorize the execution of arrest warrants. He specified
that administrative action would not preclude authorizing the
execution of arrests warrants. END SUMMARY.

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BACKGROUND
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2. (SBU) On June 27 an Iraqi judge issued 52 arrest warrants for
people implicated in the abuses at the former Ministry of Interior
detention facility known as Site 4. Bolani has so far not authorized
execution of the warrants. Paragraph 136 of the Iraqi Criminal
Procedure Code states that an employee of a ministry can be brought
to trial for an offense committed during the performance of an
official duty only with permission of the responsible minister.

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DCM ASKS ABOUT SITE 4 INVESTIGATION
-----------------------------------

3. (SBU) The DCM, accompanied by the Embassy Legal Adviser and Rule
of Law coordinator, met with Minister of Interior Jawad Bolani on
October 10. The DCM expressed the intent in Washington to see the
GOI take actions following the abuses that had occurred at Site 4,
and the importance of this in the context of the Leahy Law.

4. (SBU) The DCM also noted that in a meeting with the Ambassador,
Bolani had promised to announce the results of his investigation
into Site 4 on October 12. The DCM asked Bolani if he could tell us
what he planned to say.

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BOLANI SAYS INVESTIGATION IS COMPLETE
-------------------------------------

5. (SBU) Bolani replied he had formed three committees to
investigate the allegations against the people for whom arrest
warrants had been issued, and that:

-- The three committees had completed their work earlier in the day,
but he had not yet been briefed on their findings;

-- He would announce the results of the investigation when he met
with Council of Representatives (COR) members on October 12.

-- He would inform us of what he planned to tell the COR
representatives before meeting with them.

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BOLANI KEEPS OPTIONS OPEN
-------------------------

6. (SBU) Asked what actions he planned to take, Bolani seemed to be
keep his options open. He noted that he could authorize the
execution of arrest warrants, or take administrative action such as
transferring people to another job, forcing them to retire or firing
them. Bolani specified that administrative action would not
preclude authorizing the execution of arrest warrants.

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BOLANI DESCRIBES EFFORTS TO REFORM MOI
--------------------------------------

7. (SBU) Bolani also noted that he was determined to deal not only
with Site 4 but to fight all corruption and criminality in the MOI.
He said that he is the first Minister of Interior to complete a plan
to reform the MOI. He added that he had reassigned "thousands" of
people for improper behavior, and that in the last ten days alone,
he had sent 40 people to court for prosecution.

8. (SBU) Bolani also complained that neither the media nor the U.S.
Congress are aware of the progress he is making in reforming the
MOI. The DCM replied that we would be happy to work with the
Minister to help ensure that Congress and the media are well
informed, and asked for additional information to be able to assist
in this effort.

KHALILZAD

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