US News
Second dog handler at Abu Ghraib receives 90 days hard labour
By DPA
Jun 2, 2006, 19:00 GMT

Washington - The US military on Friday sentenced a second dog handler to 90 days of hard labour after he was convicted on charges in connection to the abuse at the Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, a US Army spokeswoman said.

Santos Cardona, 35, must also forfeit 7,200 dollars in pay for the next year and was reduced in rank from sergeant to specialist, the spokeswoman said.

A US military jury convicted Cardona on Thursday of dereliction of duty and aggravated assault. He faced a maximum of three-and-a-half years in prison.

Cardona is the 11th US soldier convicted in connection to abuses at Abu Ghraib near Baghdad. Photos of abuse emerged in 2004, sparking worldwide outrage and badly damaging US credibility.

The dogs were used to pressure detainees during interrogations. Cardona was shown in photographs threatening naked detainees in a corner with his German shepherd.

Another dog handler, Michael Smith, was sentenced to six months in prison in March after his trial at Fort Meade, which lies just outside Washington.

The US Army last month charged Lieutenant Colonel Steven L Jordan, who oversaw interrogations at Abu Ghraib, in connection to the scandal. He is the first officer to face charges.