Soldier 'instructed' to abuse Abu Ghraib prisoners. 21/08/2005. ABC News Online
ABC Online Soldier 'instructed' to abuse Abu Ghraib prisoners. 21/08/2005. ABC News Online [This is the print version of story http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200508/s1442489.htm]
First Posted: Sunday, August 21, 2005 . 10:03am -->Last Update: Sunday, August 21, 2005. 10:03am (AEST)
Scene of the crime: Sgt Davis says he found some of the abuses disturbing. (AFP)
Soldier 'instructed' to abuse Abu Ghraib prisoners
One of the US soldiers convicted of mistreating prisoners at Baghdad's Abu Ghraib prison says his superiors made it clear those incarcerated were to be abused.
Sergeant Javal Davis was sentenced to six months in jail after admitting to having deliberately stepped on the hands and feet of handcuffed prisoners.
In an interview aired on Channel 7, Sgt Davis said he was instructed to make life as unpleasant as possible for those he was guarding.
"I was left with an open door to pretty much almost do whatever I want, you know like 'hey, make sure this guy has a bad night you know' or 'make sure this guy gets the treatment'," he said.
Sgt Davis says he found some of the things he was asked to do distressing.
"For example, the nakedness, the hooding, the handcuffing of the detainees in compromising positions, like handcuffed behind their back in an uncomfortable way or handcuffed to the bar door door or something," he said.
He says he asked that orders he was given to abuse prisoners be put in writing.
But despite repeated requests, his superiors never agreed to do so.
Sgt Davis was a military policeman who worked as a guard at Abu Ghraib prison for three months in late 2003.
The pictures of the mistreatment by the guards, which included sexual humiliation, sparked international outrage.
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