Idema accuses FBI agents of cover-up

KABUL: An alleged American bounty-hunter on trial for running a private jail, kidnapping and torturing prisoners in Afghanistan on Monday accused FBI agents of seizing evidence proving his links to US authorities.

Jonathon Idema told an Afghan court the US Federal Bureau of Investigation had taken from the Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS) hundreds of videotapes, photos and documents detailing his links with the FBI, the Central Intelligence Agency, the US Defence Department and the US-led coalition. “In front of the judge is the receipt that the FBI signed. Why did the judge allow the FBI to take evidence from the NDS?” Idema said, alleging 500 pages of documents, 200 videotapes and at least 400 photos detailing had been seized.

“Now it’s at the US embassy where none is ever going to see it.”

Idema, wearing dark sunglasses and a khaki army shirt with a US flag on the shoulder, was in the dock with co-defendants Brent Bennet, also in khakis, Edward Caraballo, who wore a traditional long Afghan smock over trousers, and their four Afghan partners. The seven men, were arrested July 5 from a house in west Kabul. afp

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