Contractors Accused of Torture at Abu Ghraib

Employees of contractors CACI International and L-3 Services tortured an Iraqi civilian being held at Abu Ghraib prison in Baghdad, according to a Washington federal court suit.

Baghdad resident Sa'adoon Ali Hameed Al-Ogaidi says the companies' staff mistreated him from October 2003 to February 2004, when he was released from the prison without being charged with a crime.

The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington, says the companies and CACI employee Daniel Johnson are liable for Al-Ogaidi's injuries. It raises claims under the federal Alien Tort Statute, which gives the federal courts jurisdiction over civil tort actions filed by foreign citizens.

Al-Ogaidi accuses the defendants of torture; cruel, inhumane and degrading treatment; war crimes; assault and battery; and intentional infliction of emotional distress.

According to the complaint, the U.S. government hired CACI to provide interrogation services at Abu Ghraib, and L-3 Services, formerly known as Titan Corp., provided translators.

Al-Ogaidi says Johnson and other unidentified employees of both companies conspired with U.S. military personnel to have unidentified people torture prisoners.

He says he was repeatedly beaten and deprived of sleep while he was detained at Abu Ghraib.

CACI and L-3 Services participated in the abuse so they could make millions under their federal contracts despite knowing their actions violated U.S. laws, according to the complaint.

The defendant contractors could have stopped Al-Ogaidi and other prisoners from being mistreated but refused to do so, the suit says.

Al-Ogaidi further alleges that the companies destroyed documents, photos and other evidence to cover up the abuse.

He is seeking unspecified compensatory and punitive damages, attorney fees, and costs.

CACI said in a statement that the suit is meritless and the company will vigorously defend itself.

An L-3 Services representative said the company does not comment on pending litigation.

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Al-Ogaidi is represented by Susan Burke and William O'Neil in Philadelphia.