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Osama’s driver convicted

WASHINGTON: The White House on Wednesday said Osama bin Laden’s former driver, Salim Hamdan, had received a “fair trial” after military jurors at Guantanamo Bay rendered a split verdict on terrorism charges against him.

“We’re pleased that Salim Hamdan received a fair trial,” said spokesman Tony Fratto said after the Yemen citizen was found not guilty of terrorist conspiracy, but guilty of the lesser charge of providing material support to terrorism.

Mr. Fratto said Hamdan was presumed innocent and had an opportunity to present a defence against war crimes charges.

The divided verdict marked a dramatic conclusion of the first trial before the controversial special tribunals created by U.S. President George W. Bush and the Congress to try suspects in its global war on terrorism.

“The Military Commission system is a fair and appropriate legal process for prosecuting detainees alleged to have committed crimes against the U.S. or our interests. We look forward to other cases moving forward to trial,” said Mr. Fratto.

Human Rights Watch and other rights groups have slammed the proceedings at the U.S. military installation in Cuba as marred by irregularities and built-in handicaps for the defence, making it impossible for Hamdan to get a fair trial.

“Hamdan was alleged to have committed serious war crimes involving terrorist activity. The government presented its case against him and bore the burden of proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Hamdan was presumed innocent and had an opportunity to present a defence against the charges,” said Mr. Fratto.

The Bush administration set up the special military commissions in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on the U.S., only to see the Supreme Court invalidate them in 2006.

The Congress, under heavy pressure from the White House, restored them a few months later. — Agencies

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