VOA News - Afghan Court Cuts Sentences for Jailed US Mercenaries

VOA News - Afghan Court Cuts Sentences for Jailed US Mercenaries:

"A court in Afghanistan has shortened the prison sentences of three Americans jailed last year for running a private prison and torturing their Afghan captives.
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Last September, the three men - all civilians - were convicted of running a rogue anti-terrorist operation in and around Kabul.
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When they were arrested in July while holding eight Afghans captive in a makeshift prison in Kabul, they claimed they were operating in concert with U.S. and Afghan officials.
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It later emerged coalition forces had cooperated for a time with the group, but the U.S. military denied ever directing or condoning its activities, and said Idema and his colleagues has lied about their affiliations.

The court Thursday cut Idema and Bennett's ten-year sentences in half, and reduced Caraballo's from eight years to two.

The men will serve out their terms in Afghan prisons."