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Civil liberties - in brief (6)

01 March 2005

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UK/Iraq: Colonel to face trial for over crimes? Army prosecutors are reported to be preparing war crimes charges against the commander of the Queen's Lancashire Regiment (QLR), Colonel Jorge Mendonca, in relation to the death of an Iraqi civilian who was beaten to death by British troops in the Al-Hakimiya detention centre in September 2003. The allegations follow a 20 month long investigation into the death of hotel receptionist Baha Mousa, who was beaten to death while in British custody by soldiers from the QLR. Baha was one of a group of men who was assaulted; one of the men arrested with Baha, Kifah Taha, suffered a near-fatal kidney failure in the same incident. Mendonca was the commanding officer of the QLR at the time and a number of other soldiers are already being investigated for murder or manslaughter.

Independent on Sunday 22.5.05.

UK: Lie detectors to be introduced for benefits? The government is reported to have "secret plans" to introduce lie detectors to monitor telephone conversations for benefit and compensation claims. Documents leaked to the Independent newspaper show that the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department for Work and Pensions are considering proposals for monitoring calls to "detect signs of stress in the voice that can betray false claims". The plan, which is being drawn up by civil servants, is based on a scheme used by insurance companies to catch "bogus" claiments. The project has been condemned by opposition politicians who point out that lie detectors belong to the world of pseudo-science and form no basis for determing the honesty of claiments.

Independent 28.12.05.

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