US embassy cable - 05KUWAIT1309

C O N F I D E N T I A L KUWAIT 001309 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARPI 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/29/2015 
TAGS: PTER, PGOV, PREL, MOPS, KU, TERRORISM 
SUBJECT: CHARGES AGAINST MILITARY OFFICER TERROR SUSPECTS 
DROPPED 
 
REF: KUWAIT 990 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Richard LeBaron for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) 
 
1. (U) Reportedly citing the absence of a crime, Kuwaiti 
Public Prosecutors on March 29 dropped charges against two 
former active-duty Kuwait Army soldiers who were detained on 
January 3 for allegedly plotting attacks against U.S. 
military assets in Kuwait.  The pair, released on bail in 
mid-February (reftel), were among fifteen Kuwaiti military 
personnel detained in January, and have since been discharged 
from the military.  The other 13 were released almost 
immediately for lack of evidence. (Although not confirmed, 
the two soldiers are believed to be LTC Fahd Al-Mutairi and 
Cpt. Talal Al-Enezi.) 
 
2. (U) Mohammed Al-Mutairi, the defense lawyer for one of the 
released suspects, blamed "security officials who acted on 
weak information and rumors" for erroneously detaining his 
client. Although Mutairi said that investigations into the 
allegations had been "permanently halted," Deputy Prime 
Minister and Defense Minister Shaykh Jaber Mubarak Al-Sabah 
told local dailies March 29 that the army's judicial 
department "is still assessing the case." 
 
3. (C) Comment: The apparent exhoneration of military 
personnel suspected of planning attacks against U.S. forces 
is deeply disturbing.  Post is requesting a full explanation 
of both cases from GOK authorities, and will continue to 
closely monitor the actions of the GOK on this issue.  End 
Comment. 
 
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LEBARON