2008 Woodie Awards
Justice Served in Abu Ghraib Scandal
Sergeant Frederick to serve eight years for his role in the Abu Ghraib prison abuse scandal.
Ike Saunders
Issue date: 10/29/04 Section: News
- Page 1 of 1
On October 20, "U.S. Army Reservist Staff Sergeant Ivan 'Chip' Frederick pleaded guilty to conspiracy, dereliction of duty, maltreatment of detainees, assault, and committing an indecent act under a plea agreement," reports CNN Online. He is to serve eight years for his actions in Iraq. Frederick is one of seven Maryland-based 372nd Military Police Company members charged in the horrendous abuse incident that occurred in April earlier this year at a Baghdad-area prison. Photos depicting what appeared to be abuse on the inmates at Abu Ghraib leaked to the media, sparking the controversy. The prisoners were forced into demonstrations of public nudity and degradation while others were "forced to be wired and hooded while standing on platforms" states CNN.
The Associated Press reports that Frederick told the court on Wednesday that "military intelligence purposes" were the motives behind his treating the prisoners as he did. In his defense, Frederick asserts that he was not made aware of regulations regarding treatment of prisoners until after the abuse scandal. Associated Press also quotes Frederick as claiming, "They told me to do what (military intelligence) told me to do," after questioning his commanders on the issue. "I was wrong about what I did and I shouldn't have done it," Frederick confessed to judge Army Colonel James Pohl. "I knew it was wrong at the time because I knew it was a form of abuse." Frederick further insists that he was told military intelligence wanted the prisoners "stressed out, wanted them to talk more."
One witness during the trial was Chief Warrant Officer Kevin Kramer. He referred to an e-mail sent to him "from the U.S. command in Baghdad telling him to order his interrogators to be tough on prisoners," cites CNN Online. "'The gloves are coming off, gentlemen, regarding these detainees,' the e-mail, which was read into evidence, said. It added that the command 'wants the detainees broken.'"
Two other soldiers have been thus far sentenced after pleading guilty. In May, Specialist Jeremy Sivits was sentenced to a year in prison. Sivits told a court marshal he saw Frederick "punching an inmate so hard that everyone present feared the man was having a heart attack," reports CNN Online. "A medic was called to attend the man after the incident, which occurred November 8, 2003," Sivits said. Military intelligence Specialist Armin Cruz was sentenced to eight months confinement, reduction in rank to private, and a bad conduct discharge back in September as a result of his participation in the scandal. Frederick's sentence also resulted in a forfeiture of pay, a dishonorable discharge and a reduction in rank to private. The Associated Press further notes that Frederick's sentence is the longest yet in association with the scandal.
The Associated Press reports that Frederick told the court on Wednesday that "military intelligence purposes" were the motives behind his treating the prisoners as he did. In his defense, Frederick asserts that he was not made aware of regulations regarding treatment of prisoners until after the abuse scandal. Associated Press also quotes Frederick as claiming, "They told me to do what (military intelligence) told me to do," after questioning his commanders on the issue. "I was wrong about what I did and I shouldn't have done it," Frederick confessed to judge Army Colonel James Pohl. "I knew it was wrong at the time because I knew it was a form of abuse." Frederick further insists that he was told military intelligence wanted the prisoners "stressed out, wanted them to talk more."
One witness during the trial was Chief Warrant Officer Kevin Kramer. He referred to an e-mail sent to him "from the U.S. command in Baghdad telling him to order his interrogators to be tough on prisoners," cites CNN Online. "'The gloves are coming off, gentlemen, regarding these detainees,' the e-mail, which was read into evidence, said. It added that the command 'wants the detainees broken.'"
Two other soldiers have been thus far sentenced after pleading guilty. In May, Specialist Jeremy Sivits was sentenced to a year in prison. Sivits told a court marshal he saw Frederick "punching an inmate so hard that everyone present feared the man was having a heart attack," reports CNN Online. "A medic was called to attend the man after the incident, which occurred November 8, 2003," Sivits said. Military intelligence Specialist Armin Cruz was sentenced to eight months confinement, reduction in rank to private, and a bad conduct discharge back in September as a result of his participation in the scandal. Frederick's sentence also resulted in a forfeiture of pay, a dishonorable discharge and a reduction in rank to private. The Associated Press further notes that Frederick's sentence is the longest yet in association with the scandal.